Democracy in Tauranga down the plug-hole until 2024 – so what can we learn about Mahuta’s intentions for Three Waters?

The Taxpayers’ Union saw the implications for the Three Waters programme.   Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s decision to cancel this year’s elections in Tauranga (spokesman Louis Houlbrooke said) showed she could not be trusted to deliver water services that are accountable to ratepayers.

The Taxpayers’ Union is supporting the Tauranga Ratepayers’ Alliance‘s petition to restore elections at www.restoredemocracy.nz.

Among his objections to Mahuta’s decision, Houlbrooke said the Wellington-appointed, co-governed commission (answerable only to the Minister) had pushed through a 17 per cent rates hike.

“Why should we expect her unelected, co-governed water entities to deliver anything better for ratepayers?”

Fair to say, One News  flushed out support for Mahuta:

Then along came Jones – and Ngai Tahu’s hopes of securing an electoral privilege (for now) were scuppered

The people of Canterbury have been ill-served by central government over the past decade. They have been denied their right to elect their representatives to Environment Canterbury,  the regional council which taxes them and makes important decisions which affect their well-being.

In Parliament yesterday, Shane Jones – along with his New Zealand First colleagues and the National Party – did them a huge favour.

No, he didn’t announce a huge handout from the Provincial Growth Fund.

Better than that, he restored their democratic rights by scuttling a bill which would have entitled Ngai Tahu to appoint two representatives to sit with elected councilors after the local elections later this year.