Nats promise end to local body Maori seats

National has promised to reduce local government red tape, axe Maori seats on councils and have all local body elections conducted under the first past the post voting system.

National Leader Don Brash said in a speech today that rates had risen by 38 per cent or double the rate of inflation since Labour came to power in 1999.

"Labour's new local government, dog control, treaty, climate change, STV voting system, and resource management laws have added hundreds of millions of dollars to New Zealand's rates bill," Dr Brash said.

National would make "major changes" to local body related legislation including making it plain that iwi required no more consultation or representation than any other group.

- NZPA