Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 21, 2020 10:57:00 GMT 12
Northern Advocate 21/11/20
COMMUNITY NEEDS SAY ON MAORI WARDS
The former Mayor of the New Plymouth District Council, Andrew Judd, has been described as a leading New Zealand Maori wards advocate. Let's be clear what Mr Judd and others want. It's not just one or two Maori seats on councils: it is half. They say it must be 50/50 to "reflect the Treaty of Waitangi partnership”.
If the community is happy with that, then so be it. But the community should certainly have a say on such an important matter.
The Local Electoral Act gives the community that right if more than 5% of registered voters petition their local council to hold a binding referendum. Mr Judd has been campaigning for six years to remove that right.
To deny others the right to have a say about how their local representatives are elected is totalitarian and dangerous. Mr Judd and his supporters should be sent a very clear message that their form of "democracy" is not welcome. It's a message our local body councillors should also heed, as it is they, not Mr Judd, who on taking office, swore an oath to the community at large to represent them, and it is they who must ultimately answer to voters.
FRANK NEWMAN, Whangarei
www.kiwifrontline.nz/media/letters-to-the-editor
COMMUNITY NEEDS SAY ON MAORI WARDS
The former Mayor of the New Plymouth District Council, Andrew Judd, has been described as a leading New Zealand Maori wards advocate. Let's be clear what Mr Judd and others want. It's not just one or two Maori seats on councils: it is half. They say it must be 50/50 to "reflect the Treaty of Waitangi partnership”.
If the community is happy with that, then so be it. But the community should certainly have a say on such an important matter.
The Local Electoral Act gives the community that right if more than 5% of registered voters petition their local council to hold a binding referendum. Mr Judd has been campaigning for six years to remove that right.
To deny others the right to have a say about how their local representatives are elected is totalitarian and dangerous. Mr Judd and his supporters should be sent a very clear message that their form of "democracy" is not welcome. It's a message our local body councillors should also heed, as it is they, not Mr Judd, who on taking office, swore an oath to the community at large to represent them, and it is they who must ultimately answer to voters.
FRANK NEWMAN, Whangarei
www.kiwifrontline.nz/media/letters-to-the-editor