Politicians are at odds over co-governance arrangements for 3 Waters rebrand

National’s Justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith has accused Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of being deceitful about the government’s constitutional changes to the electoral system.

Goldsmith’s remarks came after Hipkins made a statement on RNZ's Morning Report, stating that there would be no change to the principle of one person, one vote in New Zealand’s electoral system.

Hipkins said “have a mix of elected and a mix of appointed people happened with our district health boards had a mixture of elected representatives and appointed representatives.”

He said “school boards of trustees have a mix of elected representatives and appointed representatives.”

“The government on a day-to-day basis works with a variety of advisory groups in key areas, which have a mix of people who have a democratic mandate and people who are appointed for their knowledge and expertise. This is not unusual.”

But Goldsmith cited the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act that was passed last year by the Labour government.

According to Goldsmith, the Act contradicts the principle of one person, one vote by allowing the Ngāi Tahu to appoint two councillors without a vote or an election.

Goldsmith added that during the passage of the Canterbury Bill, Labour MPs had made it clear that it was intended to be the first of many across the local government sector.

He further criticised former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for not justifying or addressing the Bill and accused the current Prime Minister of pretending that the Act doesn’t exist.

Goldsmith called on the Prime Minister to correct his statement and explain why he thinks ‘one person, one vote’ is no longer appropriate for Canterbury.

National has promised to repeal the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act and restore equal voting rights for all New Zealanders.