Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Whanganui’s ‘Citizens' Assembly’ Is A $20,000 Dodge Of Democratic Duty
Responding to Whanganui District Council’s decision to hold a $20,000 'citizens' assembly’ to decide on the future of outdoor swimming facilities, ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton said:
“Whanganui District Council is making a mockery of local democracy.
“The council has outsourced its job to 40 unelected, unaccountable anonymous individuals, to do what elected councillors are already paid to do.
“Those who self-selected to be part of the selection pool are almost certainly the same people who would have submitted on any consultation anyway. This appears to be nothing more than the council trying to wash their hands of responsibility for decisions they make.
“If Whanganui had ACT councillors, you can bet this nonsense would have been stopped before it started. Councils exist to represent the public, not hide behind unelected panels when the decisions get a little tough.
"We’re looking forward to making our case to ratepayers across New Zealand in the local elections later in the year."
Gordon Campbell: On The Parental Panic Over Young Kids Online
NZCTU: Unions Barred From Budget 2025 Lock-Up
Local Water Done Well: Local Water Done Not So Well | Public Understanding And Confidence In Framework Severely Lacking – New Data
New Zealand Police: Statement Regarding Jevon McSkimming
Climate Liberation Aotearoa: Climate Activist Draw Attention To Outdated Regulations Of Heli Tourism In Aoraki National Park
The New Zealand Remembrance Army: Victoria Cross And Hardham Cup Come Together For First Time In Over 100-years
Queer Endurance in Defiance: Wellington Queer Communities Protest Against NZ First’s Anti-Trans Bill
