Alfred Ngaro

National List MP based in Te Atatū

Media statement

25 June 2015

Bill to improve local electoral system fairness passes first reading

National List MP Alfred Ngaro’s Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No. 3) passed its first reading in Parliament last night.

“If passed, the Bill will remedy a loophole in current legislation that allows local board members in Auckland to serve on two or more boards at once,” says Mr Ngaro.

“When a person serves on more than one board, there’s a real potential for conflicts of interest and local board power to be concentrated in the hands of a few people, many of whom don’t even live in the area they represent,’’ says Mr Ngaro.

“This practice needs to stop, and this Bill’s going to address that.”

The Bill will not affect current local board members, but future candidates will no longer be able to stand on more than one board.

It enhances fairness of the local electoral system and protects the integrity of the local boards in the democratic process.

The Bill will now go to the Select Committee for further debate before coming back to the House for its second and third readings.

ENDS.

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