News, Views, Commentaries……
See more posted on the Democracy Action Facebook page
Ivan Barnett: the lone goose, the abandoned flock, and a government that has turned its back on the public
Ivan Barnett argues that the Government is increasingly ignoring voters' wishes while empowering unelected iwi organisations to influence public assets, services, and decision-making. READ MORE
Ratepayers' Alliance welcomes PM's promise to remove IMSB voting rights - but why wait?
The Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance has welcomed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's commitment to remove the Independent Māori Statutory Board's (IMSB) voting rights after the next election but questions why the change is being delayed. It argues that, if the Government is genuinely committed to strengthening local democracy, there is no need to wait until after the election. READ MORE
New Zealand First to campaign on scrapping Independent Māori Statutory Board
The party has introduced a Member's Bill to disestablish the IMSB and transfer its functions back to Auckland Council, saying this would restore democratic accountability while allowing the Council to continue engaging with Māori through normal democratic processes. READ MORE
Watts out of excuses on IMSB voting loophole
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Local Government Minister Simon Watts to close the Auckland IMSB voting loophole, after legal advice from Franks Ogilvie confirmed the Government can do so through a simple amendment to the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill currently before Parliament. READ MORE
Michael Laws exposes the co-governance charade and $8m taxpayer iwi funding
Michael explains that five Marine Reserves have been established under Ngāi Tahu ‘co-governance’ and they get $8 million for their efforts. He points out that in reality they will be effectively control by the iwi. WATCH ON THE PLATFORM HERE
Ngai Tahu Co-Governed Marine Reserves Unjustifiable
Michael Laws interviews Fish Mainland spokesman Allan Key, who says that Ngai Tahu co-governed marine reserves are unjustifiable. WATCH ON THE PLATFORM HERE
Metropolitan Water Plan memo
The Taxpayers' Union highlights what is a broken election promise by the National Party, focusing on the Wellington Metropolitan Water Services Delivery Plan. READ MORE