Read Bill, English tells Tizard

Acting Local Government Minister Judith Tizard has clearly not read the Local Government Bill or understood its implications for councils throughout New Zealand, says National Party leader Bill English.

“The acting Minister is dancing on the head of a pin in arguing councils don’t have to act in accordance with the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi nor recognise and respect the Principles of the Treaty,” Mr English says.

“I direct her to Page 10, Part 1, Clause 4 of the Bill under the title Treaty of Waitangi,” says Mr English.

It reads: To recognise and respect the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and with a view to maintaining and improving opportunities for Maori to contribute to local government decision making processes, Parts 2 and 5 provide principles and mechanisms to facilitate participation by Maori in local authority decision-making.”

“The acting Minister’s claim that the Local Government Minister doesn’t have power to review all decisions relating to Maori and order the process be done again, is provided for in Clause 63 which requires specific consultation with Maori.

“Clause 174 allows the review of local authorities in respect of any matter while Schedule 13 Clause 10 allows the Minister to require a local authority to do again any consultation process,” says Mr English.

“If the Minister had bothered to listen to groups like Business New Zealand, Federated Farmers and Mayors like Auckland’s John Banks she’d understand that this Bill is full of fish-hooks that can’t be resolved in the rush before Christmas,” Mr English says.

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