The Democracy Action working group is preparing a set of questions to ask candidates. Please take the opportunity to call radio shows with guest candidates, and attend public meetings, to ask a question or two.
Suggested questions you could ask include:
- What are your views on the appointment of race-based representatives with voting rights to council committees?
- Will you treat Maori citizens differently from other citizens?
The Auckland Mayoralty
This year's competition for the Auckland mayoralty is widely considered a two-horse race between Phil Goff and John Tamihere, both former Labour MPs. What is not widely acknowledged is that Tamihere comes with the unfortunate trait of not supporting one standard of citizenship, and is on public record as saying that “We are too mature now in this process to allow opportunistic politics about one standard of citizenship to be given any credibility. This issue of one law for all needs testing” - see ‘The Treaty as a roadmap’, published in the NZ Herald on Waitangi Day this year.
Furthermore, Tamihere is the lead applicant (on behalf of Ngati Porou ki Hauraki) for the recognition of customary marine title over most of the eastern coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula. Please see below the Memorandum of Counsel which includes a map of the area under claim.
Voting opens on 20 September and runs until midday on 12 October. Voting papers will be sent by post. Please click HERE for a link to the Electoral Commission website for information on how to enrol.