Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jul 3, 2020 15:12:54 GMT 12
COVID -19 RECOVERY (FAST TRACK CONSENTING) BILL HAS PASSED INTO LAW
We come to you with sad tidings - the COVID -19 Recovery (Fast Track Consenting) Bill has passed into law with the controversial iwi clauses intact, and WITH THE SUPPORT OF BOTH NZ FIRST AND NATIONAL!
NZ First, particularly the leader Winston Peters, has often spoken out against separatism, parallel representation and dual governance, and yet there could scarcely be a greater example of this as in the Fast Track legislation. The elevation of iwi to the resource consent decision-making table to sit alongside our democratically elected local authorities, while in effect blocking the rest of the community from being involved, is blatantly at odds with NZ First policy espoused over many years. SHAME ON NZ FIRST - IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THE PARTY HAS JOINED THE RANKS OF LABOUR, NATIONAL AND THE GREENS IN PROMOTING IWI FIRST POLICIES.
We’d like to thank all who heeded the call to contact NZ First regarding the bill, and thank you to those who sent us a copy of your message. It is obvious many of you share our angst at the direction the politicians are taking our country.
To further illustrate just how far the pendulum has swung in favour of iwi interests, look at the Waipa District Council’s ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure projects. The project information form reveals that the council is budgeting 8% of the $25M cost of the projects for ‘iwi engagement’. That is around $2M, which is over $700,000 more than all the specialist fees combined, and $500,000 more than the project management costs! Alas, this is not the only council which is generously shovelling ratepayers’ money into iwi coffers - this is happening all around the country to a greater or lesser degree.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE TAUPO WATER MONITORING PROPOSAL CLOSES ON JULY 8TH
In our June newsletter we signalled, in the article > tinyurl.com/yc8s7dee the Waikato Regional Council’s proposal to outsource one of its core functions - the monitoring of Taupo’s water quality - to Tūwharetoa. We encourage all who reside in and/or pay rates in the Waikato Regional Council area > tinyurl.com/ybkx5ky7 to make submissions opposing the move, and encourage friends in the area to do likewise - otherwise our silence is in danger of being mistaken as approval. To read the proposal and make a submission, visit here to have your say> tinyurl.com/ydhs66ce The easiest way to have your say is via the online form.
Please click here > tinyurl.com/y9jotuju to read the Democracy Action submission. You are welcome to use this, and the information in our June newsletter as linked above, to inform your own submission.
Please click here to JOIN Democracy Action > tinyurl.com/ybxrdw85
Please click here to DONATE (without joining) tinyurl.com/y7nky544
Thank you once again - without your support we truly could not do the work that we do.
Kind regards,
DEMOCRACY ACTION
democracyaction@xtra.co.nz
We come to you with sad tidings - the COVID -19 Recovery (Fast Track Consenting) Bill has passed into law with the controversial iwi clauses intact, and WITH THE SUPPORT OF BOTH NZ FIRST AND NATIONAL!
NZ First, particularly the leader Winston Peters, has often spoken out against separatism, parallel representation and dual governance, and yet there could scarcely be a greater example of this as in the Fast Track legislation. The elevation of iwi to the resource consent decision-making table to sit alongside our democratically elected local authorities, while in effect blocking the rest of the community from being involved, is blatantly at odds with NZ First policy espoused over many years. SHAME ON NZ FIRST - IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THE PARTY HAS JOINED THE RANKS OF LABOUR, NATIONAL AND THE GREENS IN PROMOTING IWI FIRST POLICIES.
We’d like to thank all who heeded the call to contact NZ First regarding the bill, and thank you to those who sent us a copy of your message. It is obvious many of you share our angst at the direction the politicians are taking our country.
To further illustrate just how far the pendulum has swung in favour of iwi interests, look at the Waipa District Council’s ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure projects. The project information form reveals that the council is budgeting 8% of the $25M cost of the projects for ‘iwi engagement’. That is around $2M, which is over $700,000 more than all the specialist fees combined, and $500,000 more than the project management costs! Alas, this is not the only council which is generously shovelling ratepayers’ money into iwi coffers - this is happening all around the country to a greater or lesser degree.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE TAUPO WATER MONITORING PROPOSAL CLOSES ON JULY 8TH
In our June newsletter we signalled, in the article > tinyurl.com/yc8s7dee the Waikato Regional Council’s proposal to outsource one of its core functions - the monitoring of Taupo’s water quality - to Tūwharetoa. We encourage all who reside in and/or pay rates in the Waikato Regional Council area > tinyurl.com/ybkx5ky7 to make submissions opposing the move, and encourage friends in the area to do likewise - otherwise our silence is in danger of being mistaken as approval. To read the proposal and make a submission, visit here to have your say> tinyurl.com/ydhs66ce The easiest way to have your say is via the online form.
Please click here > tinyurl.com/y9jotuju to read the Democracy Action submission. You are welcome to use this, and the information in our June newsletter as linked above, to inform your own submission.
Please click here to JOIN Democracy Action > tinyurl.com/ybxrdw85
Please click here to DONATE (without joining) tinyurl.com/y7nky544
Thank you once again - without your support we truly could not do the work that we do.
Kind regards,
DEMOCRACY ACTION
democracyaction@xtra.co.nz
