Post by Kiwi Frontline on Apr 16, 2024 11:27:26 GMT 12
COALITION PROMISES
The Fast-track Approvals Bill has been designed to provide a faster pathway through the consent process for major infrastructure projects. It is now in front of a Select Committee and open for submissions until 19 April – see HERE.
A critical part of that reform is the appointment of expert panels to assess projects and recommend to Ministers whether or not they should proceed. Section 3 of Schedule 3 of the Bill provides details of their makeup. It stipulates that up to four people can be appointed, and it specifies two of these positions – one must be nominated by “iwi authorities” and another by “local authorities”.
Additionally, Section 7 (1) outlines the skills needed for panel members, with (c) specifying “an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles” and (d) “an understanding of tikanga Maori and matauranga Maori.”
While it is appropriate that iwi, along with all other groups that may have an interest in a project, are invited to make submissions on proposals, it is completely inappropriate that race-based organisations will be given privileged status on panels.
Furthermore, with local government now committed to closer partnerships with iwi, the panel membership – as specified in the Bill – is likely to deliver an iwi veto.
For a Government committed to equal rights that has pledged not to advance policies “that ascribe different rights and responsibilities to New Zealanders on the basis of race”, including iwi appointees on panels represents a gross betrayal.
Nor is it acceptable for this legislation to include any reference to Treaty “principles” given the Coalition’s commitment to remove them from legislation.
This a very serious matter – if the public cannot trust the Coalition to deliver on its core commitment to removing racial privilege and rebuilding a society where equality of all citizens before the law prevails, then their promises are not worth the paper they are written on.....
www.nzcpr.com/coalition-promises/
The Fast-track Approvals Bill has been designed to provide a faster pathway through the consent process for major infrastructure projects. It is now in front of a Select Committee and open for submissions until 19 April – see HERE.
A critical part of that reform is the appointment of expert panels to assess projects and recommend to Ministers whether or not they should proceed. Section 3 of Schedule 3 of the Bill provides details of their makeup. It stipulates that up to four people can be appointed, and it specifies two of these positions – one must be nominated by “iwi authorities” and another by “local authorities”.
Additionally, Section 7 (1) outlines the skills needed for panel members, with (c) specifying “an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles” and (d) “an understanding of tikanga Maori and matauranga Maori.”
While it is appropriate that iwi, along with all other groups that may have an interest in a project, are invited to make submissions on proposals, it is completely inappropriate that race-based organisations will be given privileged status on panels.
Furthermore, with local government now committed to closer partnerships with iwi, the panel membership – as specified in the Bill – is likely to deliver an iwi veto.
For a Government committed to equal rights that has pledged not to advance policies “that ascribe different rights and responsibilities to New Zealanders on the basis of race”, including iwi appointees on panels represents a gross betrayal.
Nor is it acceptable for this legislation to include any reference to Treaty “principles” given the Coalition’s commitment to remove them from legislation.
This a very serious matter – if the public cannot trust the Coalition to deliver on its core commitment to removing racial privilege and rebuilding a society where equality of all citizens before the law prevails, then their promises are not worth the paper they are written on.....
www.nzcpr.com/coalition-promises/