Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors - Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Friday 22 August 2008

Right Wing Councillors "Blinkered" on Representation Issues

At a meeting of the Finance and Strategy Committee, Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Councillors voted against introducing a separate Maori Ward and rejected the Single Transferable Vote (STV) voting system for the next council elections which will be held in 2010.

City Vision Eden-Albert Councillor Cathy Casey moved for the Council to consider having a Maori Ward on the Council as provided for in the Local Government Act. However all C&R Councillors voted to turn it down.

Councillor Cathy Casey said she was extremely disappointed, "It is vital for a directly elected Maori voice to be heard at the 'top table' at Council. This decision is a real slap in the face to Maori. In voting against democratically elected Maori representation, this council is failing to acknowledge the unique and vital partnership role of Maori in Auckland's governance."

Labour Tamaki-Maungakiekie Councillor Richard Northey failed to gain any C&R support when he unsuccessfully moved for Council to consider introducing the STV voting system for the next council elections.

Councillor Northey said, "An STV system for Auckland City Council would lead to more diverse representation on the Council to better reflect the population and less severe swings in council policies than have followed First Past the Post (FPP) elections."

Labour Tamaki-Maungakiekie Councillor Leila Boyle told the meeting, "It is now an urban myth that counting STV results is much slower and it takes days to get results. Last year, our Auckland District Health Board election results were available on Election Day."

ENDS

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