Environment Canterbury Regional Council is promoting a Local Bill to Parliament - the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngai Tahu Representation) Bill - which, if passed, would ensure Maori representation on the Council beyond next year’s election. Please click HERE for a link to the bill.
The purpose of the Bill is to enable Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to appoint up to two members of the Council to represent the interests of Ngai Tahu members. Such a proposal abandons the basic principle of democracy that those who govern be elected to office by those whom they govern. It also introduces a conflict of interest between the commercial interests of the South Island's largest business and protection of the Canterbury environment.
Canterbury local, John Bell is spearheading a campaign against the Bill. If you can assist John, please contact him @ [email protected]
For more information see ‘Ngai Tahu Representation Bill is absurd’, posted on the Hobson’s Pledge website.