Finally the concrete promise I've been waiting for: after years of wibbling and refusing to go on record, Labour has said clearly and unequivocally that they will restore democracy in Canterbury:
A Labour Government will restore the right of Cantabrians to make their own decisions about the future of their communities, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.
[...]
“Another important step to restoring democracy in Canterbury is to reinstate local body representatives to Environment Canterbury (ECan), a right denied residents since the sacking of the previous council in 2010, as soon as possible.
“That could mean an election as soon as 2015.
An incoming government could do this with a flick of a pen, by amending the commissioner's terms of reference to include "hold an election under Section 8 Local Government Act as soon as possible". The dictators then immediately lose their jobs (and are replaced by the new elected council) the day after the poll.
