In an attempt to shake the feeling of consternation as the reality of a Trump presidency sunk in, I browsed through local political headlines to reassure myself that things are not so bad in Aotearoa.
With most media busy reporting from Washington instead of Wellington, the news of RMA reforms unsurprisingly did not hit headlines. But despite the absence of headlines, the negative impact of the reforms will still be felt by all.
On Wednesday, the Maori Party reversed their previous position and are instead backing their National Party colleagues by supporting the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill, which otherwise would not have become law.
The Bill strips legislative ability from local councils to make decisions in its own best interest, instead the bill concentrates power to a few central government elite. One amendment removes the option for local councils to receive a financial contribution from housing developers. It would be fairer for the council to retain this, instead of the option backed by the Maori Party, which could see the council be forced to increase rates for all residents to meet the additional infrastructure demand imposed new developments.
Considering the Maori Party had a policy of changing taxation distribution to achieve equality, it it in my view bizarre that they would back a plan which sees wealthy developers make more profit while private residents pay more tax in the form of rates.
