Comment: Te Arawa plan damages local democracy

Glenys Searancke

With the council's 8-5 dismissal of our attempts to remove bias and predetermination from the consultation documents, the Rotorua Pro-Democracy Society urges all citizens to make a submission. Each of us must decide to defend or dump democracy.

The Te Arawa Partnership Plan, Option 2, is not democratic. The proposed Te Arawa Board will recommend unelected nominees to be appointed to committees of council. These nominees will sit alongside elected councillors with the same voting rights. Together, these nominees and Te Arawa-affiliated councillors will have disproportionate power.

Democracy is supported in law. The purpose of the Local Government Act (2002) is to "provide democratic and effective decision-making processes". Democracy is a form of government by the people in which power is vested in the people and exercised by elected representatives after free elections. Democratic decision-making involves debate, respect for alternative views, the protection of minority interests, and working towards understanding and agreement.

Democratic values are about making informed choices through engaging in open dialogue and debate, accessing relevant and objective information, seeing that debate and decision-making has value, feeling safe and making free decisions without suffering or fearing harm.

Democratic principles respect diversity in a common civilisation, value citizenship (with equal powers and rights to participate), and protect human rights (civil, political, economic, social and collective rights).

Democratic decision-making by elected representatives means citizens and interest groups may only participate as advisers in decision-making processes. The power to make decisions is reserved to elected representatives to prevent undue influence.

Between elections, citizens and interest groups can contribute to decision-making processes through public consultations, clinics, hearings, polling, referenda, hui, letters to editors, commissions, etc.

Participation through elected representatives can be improved using formal policy advisory structures. The purpose is to ensure that systematic advice is channelled from important minorities and from key sectors in our community.

The Rotorua District Council needs to improve their processes for engaging with Maori, to the extent that is required by law. It needs also to better engage with the rest of the Rotorua community. However, none of these forms of engagement should be at the expense of long-held democratic principles and practices.

More democratic and effective decision-making processes can be achieved by establishing a Maori policy advisory board and a community policy advisory board with identical advisory powers. They would advise elected representatives, alongside input from individuals and interest groups, and expert officials.

Tell councillors you do not favour the Te Arawa Partnership Plan (Option 2). Please use the council's online submission site at http://www.rdc.govt.nz/our-council/tearawapartnership/Pages/Feedback-Form.aspx or email, fax or write to the council. In your own words, please stress six points:

* I don't want unelected people on council committees making decisions.

* I don't want disproportionate power going to any interest group.

* I don't support the Te Arawa Partnership Plan.

* I want everyone to be able to contribute fairly to decision-making processes.

* I support a democratic governance model.

* I want a Maori policy advisory board, a community policy advisory board, individuals and interest groups, and expert officials to advise elected councillors, who will make decisions.

Please ask to speak to councillors at the hearings so you can emphasise your views. Instead of the council's Te Arawa Partnership Plan, Option 2, visit www.rotoruaprodemocracy.nz to see our democratic governance model.