MPs sink democracy, says mayor

Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson supports the Local Government Act 2002 Greater Local Democracy Amendment Bill turned down in Parliament last week. FILE PHOTO

Parliament has "drowned" provincial democracy after turning down a private member's bill that would have given smaller districts in New Zealand the right to determine their own futures, says Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson.

Mrs Patterson spoke out in support of the Local Government Act 2002 Greater Local Democracy Amendment Bill that was turned down in Parliament on Wednesday.

"Before 2012, every council and district had a say," she said.

"A majority of residents in each area had to be in favour of government proposals such as the reorganisation of local government structure before it was passed.

"Our council by a majority agreed to support the bill."

Under existing legislation, if a regional majority were in support of a Wellington Super City, it would go ahead regardless of Wairarapa's wishes.

"Our concern was a democracy issue," Mrs Patterson said.

"Small councils have smaller populations as compared to larger areas like Wellington, which as the bill stands results in the drowning of the minority."

Mrs Patterson said that, because the larger areas that had larger populations in the Hawke's Bay region were in support of the proposal "they, by sheer numbers, will determine what the local government structures would be in the small towns involved".

"This is a very similar situation with Masterton and the rest of Wairarapa with Wellington," she said.

"A proposal could go to poll in the Wellington region and smaller areas like Masterton don't get a say.

"The majority from one area will dictate the decisions made for many small areas.

"My question is: is that democratic?

"And my opinion is no, it's not."

All Wairarapa councils were in support of the bill that was defeated 61 to 60 in Parliament, which National - including Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott - Act and United Future opposed. NZ First deputy leader and former Carterton Mayor Ron Mark supported the bill.

"Why should Wellington City - 220,000 people - dictate to Carterton, which has been running its affairs very efficiently ... why should it be dictated to by the majority?" he said.

"New Zealand First supports this bill. We actually look forward to having the Government voting it down, and we so desperately look forward to the fallout and the consequences on the National Party in the 2017 election."

Napier MP Stuart Nash, who promoted the bill, said he agreed with Mr Mark.

"Mr Ron Mark used Carterton as the classic case," he said.

"Carterton is an exceptionally well-run city. It did not want to be part of Wellington, so why should that be forced to happen?

"For me, democracy is about the right of communities to determine their own futures."

"It is why I have put this bill forward, because I passionately believe that communities deserve the democratic right to determine their own futures - through a poll and, if the communities vote 50.1 per cent in favour, then the democratic system says that it will go ahead."