Hi Friend,

I know you're busy, but I need just a few minutes, and it can't wait.

Because so much attention is on the Budget this week the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill has caught us all on the hop. 

The Select Committee only called for submissions on Friday. They set the deadline for midnight tonight.

I'm emailing because, more than ever, we need people-power to ensure the Government holds firms and passes the Bill to reintroduce the rights of local communities to force Māori wards to referenda.

Friend, this was the right to local referenda on Māori wards for local councils that Labour's Nanaia Mahuta scrapped. 

The team worked late last night to create a submission tool so that it takes just seconds for you to register your support for the Bill by making a submission. Click here to have your say.

Local politicians and Mayors are trying to argue that 'they know best'. They're using the ratepayer-funded campaign group, 'Local Government New Zealand' to fund a high-profile campaign to defeat this Bill. And, as you'd expect, the media are playing along... See, for example, 1News: Exclusive: Over 50 mayors, chairs critical of Govt's Māori ward changes.

LGNZ are working hand in glove with the Māori Party, who want race-based 50/50-style local councils.

I'm urging all Kiwis who, like me, believe that democracy and voting should not make distinctions on race, to join me in submitting in support of the Bill.

Under Mahuta's law (which is still in place), Mayors and Councillors have sole decision-making power on whether to introduce race-based wards. The proposed Bill would reintroduce the safeguard of local residents having the final decision making authority.

But with the Government facing opposition, we need to ensure they hold firm.

Will you take 30 seconds to submit to make clear to Parliament that this Bill has public support?

Submissions to the Select Committee close at 11.59 pm tonight.

Click here to have your say, before it is too late.

It's simply not right that politicians should be able to set the rules for how they themselves are elected – that should be a right exercised by every one of us on equal terms. The last Government rushed through their changes to effectively screw the scrum and ensure Labour Party / left wing majorities on councils, up and down New Zealand. 

We called it out back then, and this is our chance to restore the law so communities have the final say.

Take two minutes to have your say here and help us restore local democracy. 

👉 Make a submission 👈

Thank you for your support.

Peter Williams Financial Supporter and Former Board Member New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union