On the 24th of August councillors voted to change from the First Past the Post (FPP) voting system to Single Transferable Vote (STV). They did so without giving notice to the public that the change was contemplated, and without asking the public whether they agreed to the change in voting.
Whangarei’s Labour Party MP is standing down after one term in the job.
Emily Henderson said she did not expect to win the seat that had been “blue” for 45 years - saying it was a shock. When reflecting on her three years she commented,
“It is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert they are the only source of truth” – adapted from Charles Darwin
Maori wards on local councils would be abolished, should National and Act form a government on 14 October.
Congratulations on your selection as the candidate for NZ First. I am wiring to you on behalf of Democracy Northland in your capacity as the NZ First candidate.
NZ First has confirmed to me via email that it would reinstate sections 19ZA to 19ZG of the Local Electoral Act 2001. As you are aware, those sections were repealed by section 7 of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021 which was introduced by Nania Mahuta in her then capacity as Minister of Local Government. The effect was to remove the right of electors to demand a binding poll on the creation of Maori wards, and place the onus on local councils to respond to the demands of electors.
