Listen Now: 
September 16, 2024
Simeon Brown faces Local Government Māori Ward rebellion
Martyn Bradbury
Posted On September 16, 2024
0
Only 2 of the 45 Local Councils with Māori Wards have capitulated to the Government’s ant-Māori, anti-Treaty agenda by crushing Māori representation. This represents the single largest open rebellion against Central Government policy local Government has ever staged.
The genuine resentment from those at the coal face of community decision making that they must quash Māori representation is one thing, but to then be forced to hold a costly binding referendum that will decide the rights of the minority manages to add insult to injury.
This has created a unique situation where Local Councils are in open revolt against the Minister. Simeon Brown has responded with hollow threats that the Councils must now hold a binding referendum, but the Councils are instead checking their legal position to see what would happen if they defied him.
It is ironic that National preach localism over centralism until the locals don’t want to do what the central power tells them.
National have used their anti-Māori and anti-Treaty rhetoric to win over reactionary Kiwis, but how far are they prepared to go to actually enforce that anti-Māori, anti-Treaty rhetoric?
Will the Minister really sack every Council to enforce a binding referendum that will enscite race conflict?
The National Party seems to have bitten off more than they can chew.
RELATED NEWS
