ACT Local Councillors are pushing back on creeping co-governance at the local level.

In a bombshell interview with Duncan Garner, ACT Local’s Davina Smolders exposed serious concerns about governance at the Far North District Council, including transparency, elected members’ access to information, and the role of unelected appointees in decision-making. She’s calling for the appointment of a Crown Observer.Off the back of Davina’s efforts, the Minister for Local Government has now confirmed officials will engage with the Council to ensure better governance.

Davina’s stand echoes those of other ACT Local Councillors:

Otago Regional Council’s Robbie Byars stood up to oppose mana whenua membership in the proposed governance structure and argued voting membership should be confined to elected representatives.

New Plymouth District Council’s Damon Fox pushed for scrutiny of the proposed Puketapu Hapū service level agreement and argued ratepayer-funded arrangements should be carefully tested.

Wondering why local co-governance hasn’t been stopped for good? We hear you.

ACT is pushing for action from Wellington: “ACT continues to oppose voting rights for unelected local government appointees.

“I have drafted a member’s bill to make this position the law of the land under the Local Government Act. ACT has urged the Minister for Local Government to adopt this bill as Government policy.” – Cameron Luxton

If the Minister doesn’t step up, we’re ready to take this to the election.