What is the Pro-Democracy Society's main issues with the proposal?
Unelected people sitting and having voting rights on the council's Operation and Monitoring Committee, the council's Policy and Finance Committee, the Chief Executive Performance Committee and Resource Management Hearings Committee.
This represents unelected representation by a special interest group whose influences and decisions will not be in the best interests of the wider Rotorua community. There have never been people appointed to the standing committees of council who have been accorded voting rights. There have been people on sub-committees and boards but these have always been accountable to the standing committees of which they have been a part, not to an external body representing one sector of our community.
Also, the estimated cost of $250,000 to $290,000 to implement this.
Only 1.3 per cent of Te Arawa people participated in the meetings from which their option evolved. Decision making power must remain exclusively with elected councillors who are solely accountable to the community.
What does the society hope to achieve?
To promote and advocate for democracy and ensure council decisions comply with the law. We wish to ensure that council decisions consider the wishes of all citizens in an impartial manner, and in particular, that citizens of Rotorua are represented by democratically elected councillors, not appointed members of a self-interest group. A councillor must represent all facets of the community and act in their best interests as far as is possible.
Consultation with our community is not great and we believe the model put forward by the society would achieve not only better communication with Te Arawa but also with many other community organisations.
Does the society think there is a place for Maori on council?
Be mindful we have always had very good representation from Te Arawa by councillors who have been elected by the whole community. These councillors sit on the council along with others who have been elected by the community as a whole. At present we have three out of 12 and all are valued for their contribution on all matters affecting our community, not just Te Arawa matters. I value and appreciate their contribution.
If there was no Te Arawa representation at the table then indeed I would be concerned. These individuals have been democratically elected by the people of Rotorua, not appointed by a self-interested board.
What's the biggest public misconception about the society?
That the society is anti-Maori. That is simply not true. In fact we have highly respected members of Te Arawa and non Te Arawa Maori in our society. We are simply pro-democracy. We are not opposed to a Te Arawa partnership. We value Te Arawa's advice and knowledge sharing. However, we believe that council seats must be held by democratically elected people.
There are better ways to partner than the preferred option put forward by council. We are in no way trying to divide our community. We are desperately trying not to divide our community by proposing a Maori Policy Advisory Board balanced by a Community Policy Advisory Board. If unelected representation, with voting rights, is allowed on our two standing committees then that certainly will.
I urge citizens to visit our website, www.rotoruaprodemocracy.nz to further view and understand just what we stand for.