Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 1, 2020 11:59:08 GMT 12
IS THIS DEMOCRACY AT WORK?
As this will be my first "opinion- piece I thought it best to look for the definition. Dictionaries tell me "a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge”.
Is it related to opinionated?
It was with great pleasure that one of the definitions of an opinionated person was that they are dogged and stubborn... that's me.
I know for sure that many of you know that the Waipa District Council has rejected a proposal of creating a Maori Ward in Waipa. This decision was made before the 2019 election.
To my surprise (and many others) a decision was made by the new councillors that there will be Iwi appointments to the main four committees of council and they will have full voting rights on those committees.
The decision to appoint non-elected people to council is (in my humble opinion) undemocratic.
Fact: 13 people stood for the Te Awamutu Ward, 12 stood for the Cambridge Ward. A few candidates put a lot of effort into promoting themselves with pamphlets signs and door knocking. Others did just an ad in the local papers or nothing at all.
Nine people were elected and 16 were unsuccessful -a fact of democracy. How do those who were unsuccessful feel that four persons will be appointed unelected? What do ratepayers think about decisions being made by persons not elected by them?
People might argue that they will be elected (or appointed?) by iwi, but these appointees are able to vote on all matters - should they not be elected by all ratepayers?
Questions arise. These appointees will be paid, but from what budget? How much are they being paid? Was this planned or will this be unbudgeted? How much public input was asked for? Are the appointees only there for three years or 'life time'? The only information I've read was in the local paper. It was not announced that this was going to happen - it was already decided by Council so not via a transparent process.
I certainly believe that everyone who stood for the local elections had an equal chance and if some had done more to promote themselves the results might have been different. I'm also a firm believer that all people should be treated equally, so no preference on gender, race, religion, age etc. If a preference is given to any gender, race, religion or age would that not be against human rights? Just my opinion.
By Bernard Westerbaan
Published in the Cambridge News & Te Awamutu News
As this will be my first "opinion- piece I thought it best to look for the definition. Dictionaries tell me "a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge”.
Is it related to opinionated?
It was with great pleasure that one of the definitions of an opinionated person was that they are dogged and stubborn... that's me.
I know for sure that many of you know that the Waipa District Council has rejected a proposal of creating a Maori Ward in Waipa. This decision was made before the 2019 election.
To my surprise (and many others) a decision was made by the new councillors that there will be Iwi appointments to the main four committees of council and they will have full voting rights on those committees.
The decision to appoint non-elected people to council is (in my humble opinion) undemocratic.
Fact: 13 people stood for the Te Awamutu Ward, 12 stood for the Cambridge Ward. A few candidates put a lot of effort into promoting themselves with pamphlets signs and door knocking. Others did just an ad in the local papers or nothing at all.
Nine people were elected and 16 were unsuccessful -a fact of democracy. How do those who were unsuccessful feel that four persons will be appointed unelected? What do ratepayers think about decisions being made by persons not elected by them?
People might argue that they will be elected (or appointed?) by iwi, but these appointees are able to vote on all matters - should they not be elected by all ratepayers?
Questions arise. These appointees will be paid, but from what budget? How much are they being paid? Was this planned or will this be unbudgeted? How much public input was asked for? Are the appointees only there for three years or 'life time'? The only information I've read was in the local paper. It was not announced that this was going to happen - it was already decided by Council so not via a transparent process.
I certainly believe that everyone who stood for the local elections had an equal chance and if some had done more to promote themselves the results might have been different. I'm also a firm believer that all people should be treated equally, so no preference on gender, race, religion, age etc. If a preference is given to any gender, race, religion or age would that not be against human rights? Just my opinion.
By Bernard Westerbaan
Published in the Cambridge News & Te Awamutu News