Auckland Council could quit Auckland Deal over Houkura voting rights ban, Mayor Wayne Brown warns
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has threatened to withdraw from the 'Auckland Deal' after the central government moved to ban voting rights for non-elected members of council committees, specifically targeting the Māori Statutory Board, Houkura.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights a significant tension between local and central government regarding democratic processes and the representation of indigenous advisory bodies.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is angry. Photo / Michael Craig
An angry Auckland Mayor has sent a terse message to Local Government Minister Simon Watts today over claims the Government is meddling in the council’s democratic processes.
The Government today announced it is moving to ban voting rights for non-elected members of council committees.
Watts said the changes would “strengthen local democracy and accountability”. They would apply to members of Houkura, the Auckland Council’s Independent Māori Statutory Board, he confirmed.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown responded swiftly this morning, firing out a press release accusing Watts of “picking a fight” with the council and breaching promises made to elected members earlier this year.
He also released a letter he sent to Watts in July, in which Brown warned any such move would be completely unnecessary and “counter to the principles” of the Auckland Deal agreement.
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