Is the govt strengthening or diminishing democracy with its Māori Wards Bill?

This is a transcript from Will’s Word on Wednesday, 31st of July.

Now it’s time for Will’s Word…

And we are going into controversial territory today so full disclaimer.

If you didn’t know the Government’s Māori Wards Bill passed in Parliament yesterday, meaning Councils will have to hold a referendum on whether residents actually want them or not at the next 2025 local elections.

The Government argues the previous approach took away local communities’ ability to have their say on their own governance.

With this new bill, councils must now let residents vote on whether they want Māori wards. Some interpret this as returning power to the people, while others argue it’s embarrassing and even racist.

Now I don’t want to wade into the whole race debate, but I also personally see everyone as human, and so therefore everyone should be treated equally no matter their genetic makeup.

So on one side of things this is perhaps a commitment to democracy, but on the other side you cannot deny this has just opened up a whole can of worms for the Government that it will now have to navigate carefully, and will further divide this country, which isn’t what we should be doing.

Either way you look at it, you're damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

…. That’s Will’s Word…