Auckland, Aug 10, 2016 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Democracy Action is welcoming this morning’s decision by Auckland Council to send the Unitary Plan straight to the Governing Body for consideration, avoiding unelected Independent Maori Statutory Board (IMSB) members from voting on Unitary Plan decisions.

Democracy Action’s Chairman, Lee Short, says, “With the Unitary Plan the most important document this City has ever seen, every person around the table should be accountable to voters. We welcome the decision."

“Because the IMSB had made submissions to the Independent Panel, legal advice we received said that the IMSB members were ineligible to participate. Nevertheless, up until this morning, it was not clear whether the Council would let the IMSB vote anyway.

"Today's decision avoids creating a legal risk to the Auckland Council’s decision-making process on the Unitary Plan," says Mr Short.

ENDS