Here's our written submission on the government's proposed Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Marine Title) Amendment Bill.

Written submission

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill.

Democracy Action supports the policy of enabling local electors to take part in their local elections and decisions about their local electoral arrangements.

We have put together a simple submission on the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill, which you are welcome to use as a template for your own.

Remember the final day for submissions is Wednesday 1 November.

Oral submission to the Auckland Council Governing Body on 2 October 2023

Good morning your worship Mayor Brown and Councillors.

Thank you for this opportunity to share our views on the council’s proposal to introduce designated Māori seats.

I am here representing Democracy Action – a group of citizens advocating for the protection of democracy and equality of citizenship.

Below is a copy of our written and oral submissions on the Natural and Built Environment Bill and Spatial Planning Bill.

Below is our submission on the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill.

We at Democracy Action have significant concerns about the independence of public media under the proposed legislation. We believe the bill does not adequately safeguard editorial freedom.

The impact of the Water Services Entities Bill will be profound. The public and many local authorities appear to share many common concerns about provisions set out in the Bill. These include:

WRITTEN SUBMISSION

Democracy Action does not support the Bill. 

We do not support establishing iwi-based power by appointment in our governance arrangements. Therefore, we oppose the purpose of the Act, that is, to enable Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to appoint up to 2 members to the Canterbury Regional Council. 

We urge the Government to reject the Bill in its entirety. 

Oral submission text:

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill. I am presenting this submission on behalf of Democracy Action. 

Firstly, I want to make it clear we wholeheartedly support the purpose of the Act - that is to protect, promote, and improve the health and future health of all New Zealanders.

But, if the intention is to improve the health of ALL New Zealanders, this proposed legislation is absolutely the wrong way to go about it.