Member's Day

Today is a Member's Day, and first up is the second reading of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill. Like the recent Rotorua bill, this is going to be controversial, as it ditches the principle of fully-elected local bodies in favour of iwi appointments (and disproportionate ones at that). But unlike the Rotorua bill, Labour backs it. This may be their idea of what the Treaty partnership looks like, but given the blatant clash with democratic principles, it is likely to be deeply uncomfortable to most kiwis.

Following that will be the first readings of Joseph Mooney's Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill (an attempt to rewrite Māori land law, which I am not qualified to judge), Barbara Kuriger's Financial Professional Services Trading Advice Transparency Bill, and Ian McKelvie's Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for Race Meetings) Amendment Bill. If the House moves quickly it may make a start on Greg O’Connor's Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill (which is more "tough on crime" bullshit). There should be a ballot for three or four new bills tomorrow.