The Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill - My Submission
We were given five days to submit. So something is better than nothing. I merged my oral and written submission for ease of reading.
Submitted by: Natalia Albert
Occupation: former Public Servant and current PhD Student
Institution: Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Focus: Social Cohesion and Policy
Tēnā kotou katoa Justice Select Committee, Tēnā koe Hon Meager as Chair of the Committee, and Tēnā koe Tamatha, whom I had the privilege of campaigning against last year as TOP Deputy Leader and Wellington Central candidate.
I oppose the Local Government (Electoral Legislation, Māori Wards, and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill.
I'm initially annoyed at the rushed five-day submission period. Regardless of my stance on the bill, this truncated timeline undermines public trust and confidence in the legislative process. Rushing legislation in this manner leads to more problems than solutions.
Personal Background
Academic and Professional Expertise: With over 13 years of experience in public service and the past five years focused on the intersection of policy and social cohesion in New Zealand, I bring a well-rounded perspective to this discussion.
Education: I hold degrees in Political Science from Victoria University (undergraduate, postgraduate diploma, and master's) and am currently pursuing my PhD at the School of Government at Te Herenga Waka, focusing on the relationship between policy and social cohesion in New Zealand.
Perspective: I aim to provide a submission that addresses issues threatening or enhancing social cohesion and mitigating tensions between groups with opposing views. I will define social cohesion as the links between groups that can be weak or strong, negative or positive, depending on the context, and I think this framing is crucial in discussions about this bill.
Political and Practical Concerns
As a trained political scientist, I understand such bills' dynamics and motivations. The political pendulum swung from a robust leftward shift in 2018 to a significant rightward shift in 2023. However, the stakes are much higher now. New Zealand is not immune to international trends of rising populism and increasing division. Please consider moderation when you swing that pendulum to the Right.
If Labour rushed bills in 2018, please don’t do the same now. The stakes for division are much higher now than they were in 2018 before AI, COVID, Trump, Putin, Gaza, and Ukraine. With this global context in mind, elected officials have a duty to govern all constituents, not just their base, more moderately.
Reducing the submission period to five days is a cynical move that erodes public trust. The established six-week period is the bare minimum for public consultation, which is already short, obscure, and complex.
Consistency with Ideological Beliefs: The bill appears inconsistent with the Rights’ ideological push for decentralization. This government campaigned to let regions and councils handle their issues, so it should adhere to that principle.
Waste of Resources: Redirecting focus to this bill detracts from addressing critical issues like health, education, and infrastructure, which are more pressing and within the government's remit.
Social Cohesion: The bill is unnecessarily divisive and could exacerbate group tensions. If this bill passes, it will turn next year’s local government elections into an unnecessary hyper-divisive period.
Support for Local Decision-Making
Council Autonomy: Local councils should have the autonomy to manage their affairs, including establishing Māori wards and constituencies.
Mayoral Opposition: Many mayors have already opposed this bill, emphasizing the need for reconsideration.
Alignment with Ministerial Views
I align with the views expressed by Hon Kieran McAnulty and Hūhana Lyndon regarding this bill. McAnulty rightly criticizes the bill as racially motivated and disingenuous, highlighting the inconsistency in applying democratic principles exclusively to Māori wards.
Similarly, Hūhana Lyndon critique of central government overreach into local decision-making aligns with my perspective on preserving the integrity of local governance. She emphasizes the positive impact of Māori wards on enhancing local decision-making and the broad grassroots support they receive, acknowledging the historical barriers Māori face in local government and the ongoing efforts to rebuild trust and representation is crucial.
Conclusion
This bill is politically, practically, and socially flawed. It distracts from more pressing national issues and undermines local governance. I urge the Parliament to reconsider this bill.
Please aim to view your policies through the lens of what will strengthen the links between us, not weaken them. If you are going to pass this bill, please consider moderating it by listening to the people who didn’t vote for you.
My Personal Standing
I approached this submission with caution, radical humility, cultural competency and respect. I am Tangata Tiriti, a Tauiwi of colour who understands I am here because of Te Tiriti breaches.
I aim to be as respectful and honest as possible. I strive to shift from knowing to noticing and understanding, from what I am owed to my obligations and where I can be of service.
I stand on privilege, which I try to use for justice in my small circle of influence where and when possible. I often fail, but I always strive to achieve this.
My actions, motivations, and focus are usually about working within our institutions, compromising and negotiating, and taking small, ongoing, practical steps to transform our institutions into a just system for all.
I was raised by a single-working Mexican mother in Mexico, Canada, and the USA. I'm heavily influenced by ideas of liberal democracy, social capitalism, and the belief that if I work hard, honestly and ethically, I should be able to live in peace.
Bravo indeed. I’m here for the chihuahuas too :-)
bravo Natalia - wonderful submission. Particularly loved your plea "considering moderating it by listening to the people who didn't vote for you" ka pai!