Katene Rahui: Appointments — Electoral Commission 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Katene Rahui: Appointments — Electoral Commission 
[Sitting date: 18 August 2010. Volume:665;Page:13268. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
RAHUI KATENE (Maori Party—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 Just over a week ago a nationwide ShapeNZ survey of more than 2200 New Zealanders found that if there is to be electoral reform in Aotearoa people want it sooner rather than later. I congratulate the Minister of Justice on his speedy execution of change for the people of New Zealand. 
The motion fills two of the three positions in the electoral trifecta in establishing the new Electoral Commission as an independent Crown entity. In doing so it will no doubt please the 56 percent of New Zealanders surveyed who want a different system to operate at the 2014 general election. The different system will be we all hope less complicated and convoluted than the systems that already exist. The new commission will be responsible for conducting all parliamentary elections by-elections referenda and the registration of political parties as of 1 October 2010. 
With the recent activities associated with both the Labour and ACT parties electoral system reform could not be timelier. In respect of the political uncertainty that has played out across our screens in recent weeks I think the calibre of the two individuals nominated today must be recognised as an immediate strength for the new entity. In the eight words of the name of the Hon Justice Sir Hugh Williams KNZM QC LLM we have already an indication of the quality of legal leadership that will come to the fore. He is already well poised to embark on the process of electoral reform having been in the position of president of the Electoral Commission since last year. The Minister has set out Sir Hugh’s background and we welcome the skills of governance and management he brings which are so important in the role of chair. 
The Maori Party also supports the appointment of Robert Peden into the dual role of Chief Electoral Officer and chief executive of the Electoral Commission. Mr Peden is well known to the Maori Party as to other parties and I comment on one of the initiatives that he introduced by bringing together party officials to meet the relevant authorities—namely the Chief Electoral Office the Electoral Enrolment Centre and the Electoral Commission. 





 Mr Peden has had to cut his teeth on the intricacies of complex and convoluted electoral administration in the wake of the Electoral Finance Act following the legislative changes imposed by the previous Government. He had to provide advice on whether the signs on Trevor Mallard’s bright red Volkswagen Caddy could be interpreted as advertisements for Labour and consequently require the name and home address of the party’s financial agent to be carved into the paintwork. Mr Peden had to answer all of the 101 queries about whether a business card a tattoo promoting the Maori Party a tino rangatiratanga flag or brochures funded by third parties could be considered electioneering. One would think anyone who survived the nightmare of the Electoral Finance Act deserves a medal not an instant promotion to more of the same. But seriously few understand better than Robert Peden the exact machinery of all aspects of the electoral law in operation. We think that has to be a great advantage for the new Electoral Commission. 
There is no denying that efficient effective and expert administration of the Electoral Commission will be of fundamental importance to Parliament to government and indeed to the functioning of a healthy democracy. The Maori Party is happy to support these two nominees and we look forward to the third commissioner being appointed in due course. No doubt the delay is due to extensive efforts being undertaken to recruit a person of tangata whenua descent into the role. We have of course any number of people who could fulfil that role with excellent credentials to take the nation forward and we await with great anticipation the opportunity for the Treaty partner to be engaged in such a significant mechanism for our constitutional future. 
Motion agreed to.