Mayor John Carter with the newly elected Far North District Council - John Vujcich (left), Felicity Foy, David Clendon, Ann Court, Dave Collard, chief executive Shaun Clarke, Kelly Stratford, Mate Radich, Rachel Smith and Moko Tepania. Photo / Jenny Ling
Mayor John Carter with the newly elected Far North District Council - John Vujcich (left), Felicity Foy, David Clendon, Ann Court, Dave Collard, chief executive Shaun Clarke, Kelly Stratford, Mate Radich, Rachel Smith and Moko Tepania. Photo / Jenny Ling
Northland MP Matt King has lodged a private Member's Bill that would require the criminal histories of candidates, including those standing for local government, to be published.
Mr King said the Disclosure of Electoral Candidates' Convictions Bill proposed a process in which the Ministry of Justice would be required toprovide information about the criminal history of candidates to the Electoral Commission or the local Electoral Officer, who would then publish that information.
Only offences punishable by two or more years' imprisonment would be disclosed. Those concealed under the Clean Slate scheme would not be published.
"New Zealanders are voting for people who will represent them and their views in local and central government, and they deserve to know whether their elected representatives have been convicted of serious crimes. This transparency will mean New Zealanders can make an informed choice when they cast their votes," Mr King said.
"My Member's Bill doesn't seek to stop people with criminal convictions from becoming candidates, especially as many people have legitimately reformed their lives, but there have been examples in local elections this year of people standing who had convictions for fraud, serious assault, sexual assault and drug dealing.
"This information was not publicly available, and voters didn't have this information when filling out their voting papers. My bill would change that."
