Phil TWYFORD
Auckland Issues spokesperson
13 April 2011

Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford says the Auckland Council’s funding row with its Maori Statutory Board is evidence the board structure is flawed and should be abolished.

“The fact that the Maori Statutory Board was taking legal action funded by taxpayer dollars against the democratically elected Council is ridiculous,” Phil Twyford said.

“Rodney Hide and the National-Maori Party Government set up this strange beast but its neither fish nor fowl. It is not elected and yet its members have a vote on council committees. It is part of the Council but it is also independent.

“At nearly one million dollars a year it is more than five times as expensive as two councillors elected off the Maori roll.

“Rodney Hide created this problem with his super city law which set up the Maori statutory board instead of putting place dedicated Maori seats as recommended by the Royal Commission.

“The Government should recognise it got it wrong. They would be doing Aucklanders a great favour if they abolished the board and legislated for Maori seats,” Phil Twyford said.

ENDS

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