27 April 2022
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill
Enquiry
Hi there,
I've spoken with lawyer Graeme Edgeler.
I invite the mayor and or council to respond to the below comments if desired by 4pm today.
As I say will fire through any comments for right of reply for the council from Simon O'Connor or Todd McClay once I have spoken with them later on.
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COMMENTS
Public law expert and lawyer Graeme Edgeler said the bill was “wholly unnecessary” as three seats was already achievable under current law.
“The purpose isn’t to ensure Māori representation on the council, it’s to diminish non-Māori representation on the council.
“The current law does allow for fair representation.”
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
“While the Bill is going through the select committee process I won’t respond to individual commentators.
“I look forward to continuing to work on the Bill with government officials as requested and will await the outcome of the committee’s deliberations.”
Further information provided:
Council’s decision to pursue the Local Bill is detailed HERE.
We’d like to also reinforce that the purpose of the Bill – which has been reported by your newspaper previously – and which is set out HERE as well as in the Bill itself, is to seek to implement representation arrangements that are otherwise prevented by the Local Electoral Act 2001.
The purpose is not as Mr Edgeler states ‘to diminish non-Māori representation on the council’.