Green MP Huhana Lyndon says opposition to the coalition’s plan to roll back Māori wards in local government is ovewhelming.
The bill would force all councils with Maori wards to put representation on the ballot at next year’s local election, and in future any decision to create a Maori ward or consitutuency muzst be put tto a binding referndum of voters.
Ms Lyndon says the Government’s attempt to fast track the bill backfired, with thousands of Maori heeding the call to put in submissions despite having ony five days to do so.
The justice select committee held three days of hearings this week, and she only heard three submissions in favour.
“There were no councils that support the changes and they were very strong and clear so I want to tuku mihi to councils, to our people, to our community, tangata tiriti, our ethnic and migrant communities who stood up, health, social services, heaps of submissions came in and it was a beautiful thing to see our people consistently opposing,” she says.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has required the select committee to report back on June 21.
