Post by Kiwi Frontline on Aug 28, 2022 9:50:55 GMT 12
LOCAL BODY ELECTION EXPOSÉ
These rules make it clear that local body candidates elected under the Labour banner are expected to obey Party directives. Any failure to comply, could result in suspension from the party.
Felicity Wong, the chair of Historic Places Wellington, has long been concerned about party involvement in local body politics. In her exposé, “Voters beware”, she warns, “there’s no free lunch for that impressive party support”, and she cites an example from last June when councils were voting on Wellington’s Spatial Plan: “Grant Robertson expressed his ‘expectation’ that its councillors would vote for an ‘ambitious’ plan (code for removing planning controls). They duly toed the party line, demolishing character protections from at least 75% of Wellington’s inner heritage suburbs.
“With thousands of residents having made submissions opposing the loss of protections, Labour councillors resorted to an Orwellian explanation. They said they were voting for those who had not participated in the ‘consultation’. Senior politicians seemed surprised at the public blow back. Removing planning controls and ‘intensifying’ the city is however Labour Party policy, and the party line needs toeing.”
She further explains that Labour supports candidates as ‘independents’, when that’s seen as an advantage: “In Tawa’s Northern ward, it suited the party for Councillor Jill Day (a Labour Party member) to be ‘Labour endorsed’ (supported by) but not ‘affiliated’ (ie an official representative). That allows a brand-blur for Labour politicians like Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who campaigned with blue billboards when Labour’s red brand was less popular.”
For Aucklanders, all of this means that if Councillor Collins is elected Mayor, as a Labour endorsed independent candidate, while he would not be ‘controlled’ by the Party as rigorously as those who sign their pledge, he would nevertheless be beholden to them. That is already clear in his backing of Three Waters and co-governance: while the majority of Aucklanders are opposed, his support demonstrates his intention to put Labour Party objectives ahead of the concerns of his community.
The Labour Party’s infiltration into local government doesn’t stop with candidates. They have also manoeuvred their way into Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), the so-called independent body formed in 1996 to represent the interests of the country’s 78 local authorities......
www.nzcpr.com/local-body-election-expose/
These rules make it clear that local body candidates elected under the Labour banner are expected to obey Party directives. Any failure to comply, could result in suspension from the party.
Felicity Wong, the chair of Historic Places Wellington, has long been concerned about party involvement in local body politics. In her exposé, “Voters beware”, she warns, “there’s no free lunch for that impressive party support”, and she cites an example from last June when councils were voting on Wellington’s Spatial Plan: “Grant Robertson expressed his ‘expectation’ that its councillors would vote for an ‘ambitious’ plan (code for removing planning controls). They duly toed the party line, demolishing character protections from at least 75% of Wellington’s inner heritage suburbs.
“With thousands of residents having made submissions opposing the loss of protections, Labour councillors resorted to an Orwellian explanation. They said they were voting for those who had not participated in the ‘consultation’. Senior politicians seemed surprised at the public blow back. Removing planning controls and ‘intensifying’ the city is however Labour Party policy, and the party line needs toeing.”
She further explains that Labour supports candidates as ‘independents’, when that’s seen as an advantage: “In Tawa’s Northern ward, it suited the party for Councillor Jill Day (a Labour Party member) to be ‘Labour endorsed’ (supported by) but not ‘affiliated’ (ie an official representative). That allows a brand-blur for Labour politicians like Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who campaigned with blue billboards when Labour’s red brand was less popular.”
For Aucklanders, all of this means that if Councillor Collins is elected Mayor, as a Labour endorsed independent candidate, while he would not be ‘controlled’ by the Party as rigorously as those who sign their pledge, he would nevertheless be beholden to them. That is already clear in his backing of Three Waters and co-governance: while the majority of Aucklanders are opposed, his support demonstrates his intention to put Labour Party objectives ahead of the concerns of his community.
The Labour Party’s infiltration into local government doesn’t stop with candidates. They have also manoeuvred their way into Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), the so-called independent body formed in 1996 to represent the interests of the country’s 78 local authorities......
www.nzcpr.com/local-body-election-expose/