Watts out of excuses on IMSB voting loophole

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Local Government Minister Simon Watts to close the Auckland IMSB voting loophole, after legal advice from Franks Ogilvie confirmed the Government can do so through a simple amendment to the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill currently before Parliament.

The advice confirms the Bill can be amended to remove voting rights from unelected appointees of the Independent Māori Statutory Board.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Simon Watts has said it is too difficult to fix the loophole that allows Auckland Council to give voting rights to unelected IMSB appointees."

“However, the legal advice confirms the Local Government (Systems Improvement) Bill already before Parliament can be used to fix this. Minister Watts can act now if he chooses to do so."

“The Taxpayers’ Union is working with our sister organisation, the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, to campaign on this because it directly impacts Aucklanders. But every New Zealander should be concerned when unelected appointees are given voting power over ratepayer decisions."

“The Government has accepted the principle that only elected members should vote on council committees. Aucklanders deserve that same democratic protection."

“If ratepayers do not like how councillors vote, they can vote them out. They cannot do that with unelected appointees. That is why this loophole needs to be closed.”