Rotorua Council’s Maori ward restructure has been halted after the Attorney-General deemed it discriminatory to non-Maori.
The Government is trying to save face by calling it a mere “pause” to the Bill but according to Hobson’s Pledge in reality this is a comprehensive win.
Technically, Parliament’s rules mean a bill cannot be withdrawn while it’s before a Select Committee, but with the Government pulling its support Mr Coffey’s Bill is left high and dry.
And with the admission that making Maori votes twice the value of those of non-Maori cannot be justified, no amount of tweaking can make the Bill consistent with the NZ Bill of Rights Act. In short, the Bill is finished.
Hobson’s Pledge
[…] Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi said on Wednesday he would defend the proposed law after the Attorney-General’s legal analysis.
“I find it ironic that Mr Parker has the caucasity* to call a Bill discriminatory that otherwise gives equal representation to Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti. He and his mates of the same ilk wouldn’t know discrimination if they fell over it,” Waititi said.
*a slang term used to make fun of behaviours perceived to be stereotypically white or to call out what’s seen to be a particularly bold instance of white privilege or racism.
“Pakeha should stay away from using the term ‘discrimination’, especially when it comes to Maori seeking equality when it comes to representation in their own country.”
National MP Paul Goldsmith said on Tuesday the number of Maori wards should remain proportional to the population so every vote has equal weight.
“Reasonable New Zealanders will be rightly asking what this will mean for general election voting rights down the line.”
Newshub
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