Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698844654404.pdf (New Zealand)
Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill Member’s Bill Explanatory note General policy statement On 31 March 2010, Parliament passed the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Com- missioners and Improved Water Management) Act, sacking the elected representa- tives of Environment Canterbury and replacing them with unelected commissioners.

The commissioners will hold power until at least the 2016 local authority election, following an extension to their original term in 2013.
Such a long period of unelected rule is unacceptable in a democracy.

The right of the people to elect their local authority representatives is fundamental, and affirmed by article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,1 to which New Zealand is a party.

The abrogation of democracy in Canterbury violates both demo- cratic principles and international law.
This Bill remedies this appalling situation by requiring the commissioners of Envir- onment Canterbury to immediately call a special general election, to be held within 3 months of the Bill becoming law.

Clause 1 is the Title provision.

Clause by clause analysis Clause 2 provides for the Bill to come into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.
1 United Nations Human Rights Committee, General Comment No 25: The right to participate in public affairs, voting rights and the right of equal access to public service (Art 25), 12/07/96.

194—1 2 Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill Explanatory note Clause 3 provides that the Bill amends the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act 2010.

Clause 4 sets out the purpose of the Bill.


Clause 5 inserts new section 23A, requiring the commissioners to immediately call a special general election.
Megan Woods Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill Member’s Bill Contents Title Commencement Principal Act Purpose New section 23A inserted (Election to be called) 23A Election to be called The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: Page 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 4 Title This Act is the Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Act 2016.

Commencement 5 This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.
Principal Act This Act amends the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act 2010 (the principal Act).

10 Purpose The purpose of this Act is to restore democratic elections for Environment Canterbury.
194—1 1 cl 5 Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill 5 New section 23A inserted (Election to be called) The following new section is inserted after section 23: 23A Election to be called (1) (2) The commissioners shall immediately instruct the electoral officer under sec- tion 8 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 to hold a special general election for En- vironment Canterbury.
5 The special general election referred to in subsection (1) must be held no lat- er than 3 months after the commencement of this Act.

Wellington, New Zealand: Published under the authority of the House of Representatives—2016 2