Category: Democracy
Some local mayors just don't seem to understand they serve at the behest of their community. The iconic leader of this hall of shame is of course Andrew Judd, the current, and soon to be former, mayor of New Plymouth. But he is not alone
A 7-2 vote this week by the Masterton District Council to appoint representatives from two Wairarapa iwi to have voting rights on its standing committees is the latest step in a long march towards tribalising local government in New Zealand.
In this politically correct world, our right to free speech is increasingly being eroded by the apparent rights of others who disagree. State broadcaster Television New Zealand came under attack last month, when they were accused of including a ‘racist’ question in their new Kiwimeter survey.
We look upon Magna Carta as a Good Thing ~ and no-one would dispute for a second that the Great Charter is a foundation stone ~ an early milestone ~ in any case, a very large stone! ~ marking an important place in the evolution of the British Constitution into the glory and envy of the world.
The water debate is heating up, with orchestrated attacks on water bottling companies. Maori leaders want a price on water. With the resource estimated to be worth $35 billion a year, once they gain control from National, they will claim royalty payments for future use and compensation for lost revenue.
In the run up to the litigation over the part privatisation of Mighty River Power and Genesis Energy, the Waitangi Tribunal held an urgent hearing at the instigation of a number of groups claiming some Maori blood as to whether or not they are entitled to preferential rights to the ownership of fresh water in New Zealand.
Quite how Dr Smith can reconcile his extraordinary reassurance at the meeting that the Government’s proposals “won’t give iwi any decision-making role”, with the clear recommendations in his consultation paper and speech that they iwi will, is hard to fathom. But it does demonstrate his single-minded determination to ensure the Maori sovereignty movement’s goal of tribal control of fresh water becomes law.
But do the 12,000 people who signed the petition represent the views of all New Zealanders? We have set up a petition to give voice to those who are opposed to a new commemoration day to mark the land wars.
The government is considering setting aside a special holiday every year to indoctrinate us about "land wars” grievances. If you don't speak out it will probably be set up.
Love him or hate him, John Key is one of New Zealand’s most successful Prime Ministers. Whether he becomes New Zealand’s longest serving PM remains to be seen. But his poll ratings have remained high, and to date, he has managed the high-wire act of governing in an MMP environment adeptly.
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