Local government sector let down by Cabinet
Meka Whaitiri
MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
Local Government
spokesperson
MEDIA STATEMENT
19 April
2016
Local government sector let down by Cabinet
The Cabinet decision to cancel the planned online voting trial in this year’s local elections is disappointing for the councils who invested time, energy and funds to prepare for the trial, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson Meka Whaitiri.
“This decision is an absolute kick in the guts for the councils who spent time and money preparing for this trial.
“This is a lost opportunity to address declining voter participation and the councils involved in the trial felt they had done everything possible to meet the requirements for it to go ahead.
“The Government should have backed them, or at the very least signalled much earlier that the trial was to be abandoned.
“This decision shows the government is out of touch and that they have let these councils down by failing to effectively inform them.
“Make no mistake, if National were genuinely motivated to get this trial off the ground, it would have gone ahead.
“The Minister responsible, Louise Upston, owes the councils an apology for the way this has been mishandled,” says Meka Whaitiri.
ends