Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 7, 2022 11:18:10 GMT 12
DEMOCRACY ACTION – May Newsletter 2022
There is so much going on at the moment. Our democracy is under attack from so many quarters, I hardly know where to begin!
But let’s start with the good news – the highly controversial Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill has been halted after it faced scrutiny from Attorney-General David Parker, who said it presented an unjustified disadvantage to non-Māori and moved Rotorua away from proportional representation at its council. No kidding, Mr Parker.
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the deluge of public submissions, and to those who put their hand up present to the Māori Affairs committee in person - over 4,000 people did so. Given the time it would have taken to hear these all these submissions, the bill would have been prevented from passing before 1 June, the target date. Therefore, it would not apply to this year’s local elections. Hooray!
In an effort to kill the bill - according to the chair of the Māori Affairs Select Committee, it has merely been paused to consider possible amendments - a private citizen has filed an urgent judicial review of the Council’s decision to seek legislative change to enable their preferred undemocratic representation model. Click www.democracyaction.org.nz/urgent_judicial_review_of_undemocratic_rotorua_council_bill for more information. The Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers is calling for donations to fund this court action. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP, YOU CAN DONATE to its ANZ account 06 0413 0524259 00.
Now to the disappointing, but not unexpected, outcome of the Governance and Accountability working group tasked with advising Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta on how to address concerns over the Government's Three Waters Reform programme. The Government will be forging ahead with its highly unpopular reforms, with its most controversial proposals intact. In response, the Taxpayers’ Union is to resume the campaign against Three Waters. You can help by donating to the fighting fund here > www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate_three_waters
We cover a range of others issues this month, including an update on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, and the Government’s plan to implement UNDRIP. We also have news of two recently signed local body partnership/co-governance agreements – in Taupo and Wellington.
You may be interested in a highly informative YouTube video presentation by prolific author and historian Dr John Robinson, who talks about He Puapua and other pressing matters. This is available here youtu.be/vaHKcG6hC9k I think you’ll find it well worth viewing.
We’d also like to congratulate Sean Plunket, who is on the cusp of launching a new media platform - The Platform NZ. The Platform is focused on debating the issues facing New Zealanders today and promises to be a strong advocate for free speech. Launching this Monday (9 May), The Platform will have live talkback from 7am to 6pm weekdays, with hosts Sean Plunket, Michael Laws, Leanne Malcolm and Martin Devlin, as well as podcasts and articles from some of New Zealand’s best columnists, all accessible via a free app downloaded to your phone or via their website. Find out more and download the app here: theplatform.kiwi
If you share our concern that race-based co-governance is destroying our democracy, visit your local MP. Ask where they stand on two governments, one for Māori and the other for everyone else.
Thank you for your continued interest and support. If you have any suggestions you would like to offer, or if you need further information or help, please do not hesitate to contact us at enquiries@democracyaction.org.nz
And please help spread the message by sharing our newsletters with anyone who may be interested.
Visit our Facebook page. You can receive further updates by registering or joining us.
Democracy Action
www.democracyaction.org.nz/
ARTICLES OF INTEREST:
URGENT JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DISCRIMINATORY ROTORUA COUNCIL BILL
www.democracyaction.org.nz/urgent_judicial_review_of_undemocratic_rotorua_council_bill
'OTHERS' NOT CONSULTED ON DECLARATION PLAN
www.democracyaction.org.nz/undrip_plan_to_be_drafted_without_any_input_from_other_new_zealanders
PAE ORA BILL DOUBLES DOWN ON TREATY PARTNERSHIP IDEOLOGY
www.democracyaction.org.nz/pae_ora_doubles_down
TAUPŌ DISTRICT COUNCIL THROWS DEMOCRACY UNDER THE BUS!
www.democracyaction.org.nz/taupo_district_council_throws_democracy_under_the_bus
CO-GOVERNANCE DOES FAR MORE THAN ‘TWEAK’ DEMOCRACY
www.democracyaction.org.nz/co_governance_does_far_more_than_tweak_democracy
THE 'DECOLONISATION' OF CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION
www.democracyaction.org.nz/a_change_of_direction_in_civics_and_citizenship_education_in_our_schools
CO-GOVERNANCE ADVOCATES BULLY DISSENTER ON HAURAKI GULF FORUM
www.democracyaction.org.nz/co_governance_advocates_bully_dissenter_on_the_hauraki_gulf_forum
START FROM SCRATCH: THE NEW ZEALAND HISTORIES CURRICULUM
www.democracyaction.org.nz/start_from_scratch_the_new_zealand_histories_curriculum
There is so much going on at the moment. Our democracy is under attack from so many quarters, I hardly know where to begin!
But let’s start with the good news – the highly controversial Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill has been halted after it faced scrutiny from Attorney-General David Parker, who said it presented an unjustified disadvantage to non-Māori and moved Rotorua away from proportional representation at its council. No kidding, Mr Parker.
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the deluge of public submissions, and to those who put their hand up present to the Māori Affairs committee in person - over 4,000 people did so. Given the time it would have taken to hear these all these submissions, the bill would have been prevented from passing before 1 June, the target date. Therefore, it would not apply to this year’s local elections. Hooray!
In an effort to kill the bill - according to the chair of the Māori Affairs Select Committee, it has merely been paused to consider possible amendments - a private citizen has filed an urgent judicial review of the Council’s decision to seek legislative change to enable their preferred undemocratic representation model. Click www.democracyaction.org.nz/urgent_judicial_review_of_undemocratic_rotorua_council_bill for more information. The Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers is calling for donations to fund this court action. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP, YOU CAN DONATE to its ANZ account 06 0413 0524259 00.
Now to the disappointing, but not unexpected, outcome of the Governance and Accountability working group tasked with advising Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta on how to address concerns over the Government's Three Waters Reform programme. The Government will be forging ahead with its highly unpopular reforms, with its most controversial proposals intact. In response, the Taxpayers’ Union is to resume the campaign against Three Waters. You can help by donating to the fighting fund here > www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate_three_waters
We cover a range of others issues this month, including an update on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, and the Government’s plan to implement UNDRIP. We also have news of two recently signed local body partnership/co-governance agreements – in Taupo and Wellington.
You may be interested in a highly informative YouTube video presentation by prolific author and historian Dr John Robinson, who talks about He Puapua and other pressing matters. This is available here youtu.be/vaHKcG6hC9k I think you’ll find it well worth viewing.
We’d also like to congratulate Sean Plunket, who is on the cusp of launching a new media platform - The Platform NZ. The Platform is focused on debating the issues facing New Zealanders today and promises to be a strong advocate for free speech. Launching this Monday (9 May), The Platform will have live talkback from 7am to 6pm weekdays, with hosts Sean Plunket, Michael Laws, Leanne Malcolm and Martin Devlin, as well as podcasts and articles from some of New Zealand’s best columnists, all accessible via a free app downloaded to your phone or via their website. Find out more and download the app here: theplatform.kiwi
If you share our concern that race-based co-governance is destroying our democracy, visit your local MP. Ask where they stand on two governments, one for Māori and the other for everyone else.
Thank you for your continued interest and support. If you have any suggestions you would like to offer, or if you need further information or help, please do not hesitate to contact us at enquiries@democracyaction.org.nz
And please help spread the message by sharing our newsletters with anyone who may be interested.
Visit our Facebook page. You can receive further updates by registering or joining us.
Democracy Action
www.democracyaction.org.nz/
ARTICLES OF INTEREST:
URGENT JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DISCRIMINATORY ROTORUA COUNCIL BILL
www.democracyaction.org.nz/urgent_judicial_review_of_undemocratic_rotorua_council_bill
'OTHERS' NOT CONSULTED ON DECLARATION PLAN
www.democracyaction.org.nz/undrip_plan_to_be_drafted_without_any_input_from_other_new_zealanders
PAE ORA BILL DOUBLES DOWN ON TREATY PARTNERSHIP IDEOLOGY
www.democracyaction.org.nz/pae_ora_doubles_down
TAUPŌ DISTRICT COUNCIL THROWS DEMOCRACY UNDER THE BUS!
www.democracyaction.org.nz/taupo_district_council_throws_democracy_under_the_bus
CO-GOVERNANCE DOES FAR MORE THAN ‘TWEAK’ DEMOCRACY
www.democracyaction.org.nz/co_governance_does_far_more_than_tweak_democracy
THE 'DECOLONISATION' OF CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION
www.democracyaction.org.nz/a_change_of_direction_in_civics_and_citizenship_education_in_our_schools
CO-GOVERNANCE ADVOCATES BULLY DISSENTER ON HAURAKI GULF FORUM
www.democracyaction.org.nz/co_governance_advocates_bully_dissenter_on_the_hauraki_gulf_forum
START FROM SCRATCH: THE NEW ZEALAND HISTORIES CURRICULUM
www.democracyaction.org.nz/start_from_scratch_the_new_zealand_histories_curriculum