20 August 2009

Hide’s Maori seat threat hides deeper failures

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is hiding behind the Maori seats in Auckland to cover much deeper failures in his radical right wing agenda, the Green Party said today.

Mr Hide has threatened to resign his portfolio if the National Government takes heed of public opinion and supports Maori seats within the new Super-city structure.

“It would be a win/win situation for all involved if Minister Hide submitted his resignation, and John Key accepted his kind offer” said Sue Kedgley, Green Party Local Government Spokesperson.

Auckland Issues Spokesperson Sue Bradford agreed, noting that “There was overwhelming public support for guaranteed Maori seats during the submission process, from Maori, Pakeha and migrant communities alike.”

“Major organisations such as Tourism Auckland and the Auckland Regional Council endorsed appropriate Maori representation, leaving Mr Hide's agenda in tatters,” Ms Bradford said.

Ms Kedgley said: “Mr Hide has been trying to push through a far right agenda in local government which is at odds with the rest of New Zealand. He wants to shrink local democracy and privatise as many local government assets as possible. Most New Zealanders value local democracy and want to keep community assets which have been built up over generations.

“Councils all over New Zealand will breathe a sigh of relief at the departure of Mr Hide from the Local Government portfolio.

“Mr Hide has been a disaster as Minister of Local Government and the sooner he resigns, the better off New Zealand will be,” Ms Kedgley said.

ENDS

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