Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 5, 2021 14:59:11 GMT 12
DEMOCRACY ACTION NEWSLETTER – February 2021
The summer break has ended abruptly with the shocking announcement that the government will not be honouring a democratic process currently underway. The Minister of Local Government, Nanaia Mahuta, is working under urgency to abolish a law that allows local referendums to veto decisions by councils to establish Māori wards. The move will be made in time for the 2022 local body elections, and means decisions made by nine councils to establish Māori wards for that election cannot be overturned by local voters. It is difficult to understand how a democratic government could be so arrogant and so disrespectful to all those who have been working diligently to collect enough signatures to force a poll, and to the thousands who have signed the petitions in good faith.
If you too are appalled by this development, please express your views to Prime Minister, the Minister of Local Government, and to your electorate MP. Also, write letters to editors, post messages on social media, including the Labour Party Facebook page – anywhere where your voice can be heard.
The same day Minister Mahuta dropped the bombshell on a democratic process, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little announced another shocking development - that the Crown has recognised 14 customary marine title areas along the East Cape and East Coast, in favour of Ngāti Porou. In total they cover a significant area of the coastline. So much for the promise by the Key government that it is likely title would only be granted in small and discrete areas. Recognition of Customary Marine Title Order 2020 can be found on the legislation.govt.nz website. The Order has the full list of the customary marine title areas granted to Ngāti Porou.
I think you may agree that it has not been a promising start to the year!.....
Read on here > www.democracyaction.org.nz/february_2021
The summer break has ended abruptly with the shocking announcement that the government will not be honouring a democratic process currently underway. The Minister of Local Government, Nanaia Mahuta, is working under urgency to abolish a law that allows local referendums to veto decisions by councils to establish Māori wards. The move will be made in time for the 2022 local body elections, and means decisions made by nine councils to establish Māori wards for that election cannot be overturned by local voters. It is difficult to understand how a democratic government could be so arrogant and so disrespectful to all those who have been working diligently to collect enough signatures to force a poll, and to the thousands who have signed the petitions in good faith.
If you too are appalled by this development, please express your views to Prime Minister, the Minister of Local Government, and to your electorate MP. Also, write letters to editors, post messages on social media, including the Labour Party Facebook page – anywhere where your voice can be heard.
The same day Minister Mahuta dropped the bombshell on a democratic process, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little announced another shocking development - that the Crown has recognised 14 customary marine title areas along the East Cape and East Coast, in favour of Ngāti Porou. In total they cover a significant area of the coastline. So much for the promise by the Key government that it is likely title would only be granted in small and discrete areas. Recognition of Customary Marine Title Order 2020 can be found on the legislation.govt.nz website. The Order has the full list of the customary marine title areas granted to Ngāti Porou.
I think you may agree that it has not been a promising start to the year!.....
Read on here > www.democracyaction.org.nz/february_2021