Wayne Brown threatens Auckland Deal over unelected board member voting rights

Summarised by Centrist

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has warned that his council could walk away from its regional deal with the government if voting rights are removed from unelected members of Houkura, the Independent Māori Statutory Board.

The government says Houkura representatives will still be able to attend council committee meetings, participate in discussions and provide advice. The change would prevent them from voting alongside elected councillors.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced that Houkura would be covered by legislation removing committee voting rights from unelected members.

Brown accused the government of “picking a fight” and told Wellington to “butt out” of Auckland’s democratic processes. He said the government had previously indicated that Houkura was outside the legislation’s scope and claimed he learnt of the change shortly before it was announced.

Brown released a July letter signed by himself, Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and Councillor Richard Hills. It warned that Auckland could pull away from its regional deal with the government if Houkura’s voting rights were removed.

Watts rejected Brown’s claim that he had not been informed. He said the change was discussed at an Auckland Deal meeting the previous week and that the mayor’s office received the amendment and accompanying press release on Monday.

Watts said updated advice from Crown Law and the Office of the Clerk established that Houkura fell within the legislation’s scope. He said elected representatives were accountable to voters and should not share voting rights with unelected appointees.

Editor’s note: Brown compares unelected appointees with list MPs and NZTA. But, list MPs are elected through the nationwide party vote, while NZTA officials do not vote alongside councillors on Auckland Council committees.

The government is not removing Houkura’s ability to attend meetings, speak or advise councillors. But should its unelected members exercise the same voting power as representatives chosen by Auckland voters?

Read more at RNZ 

Receive our free newsletter here