April 28, 2022
Rotovoting needs rewrite
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson says a Bill proposing a unique voting system for Rotorua will have to be rewritten.
Attorney-General David Parker has found the Bill, put up on behalf of Rotorua Lakes Council by list MP Tamati Coffey was in breach of the Bill of Rights Act because voters on the Māori roll would have far greater weight than those on the general roll.
Mr Jackson says there’s no point arguing with that.
“Quite clearly there’s a technical breach. There’s no use going down this track and fighting it, otherwise things just get worse. We just go back to baselines and work it out. A mistake’s a mistake and move on,” he says.
Waiariki MP and Māori Party co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, says he will defend the Rotorua plan.