Mahuta NanaiaHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government): Having listened again very carefully and respectfully to the views—which I do not agree with—on the other side of the Chamber and mindful that at this time of the night people are listening to this debate looking for clarity about what I've said I'll clarify what I said which is that this is a short-term immediate fix to enable those councils who choose to to establish Māori wards and constituencies in time for the 2022 election. As indicated councils will have up until 21 May to make that decision. Now they could do one of two things. They could continue down the pathway of establishing their Māori wards and constituencies or they could revoke that. The provision in Schedule 1 in the Schedule of the bill and the date of 21 May is actually the date that becomes really important for this bit of legislation. So in many ways the argument that Mr Nick Smith has put up becomes somewhat defunct. But let me come to the stage two which is the substantial and enduring fix. I come back to the primary premise of this bill: we are removing a discriminatory clause that prevents Māori wards and constituencies from being established and having that provision remain in legislation does not make it right. So an enduring fix in the stage two part of this process through which I intend to make sure that we address for example what role might the Local Government Commission take in establishing Māori wards and constituencies beyond the 2022 election—so for 2025 for example and thereafter we will have a full process and I've said that time and time again in the House. So for those people who are listening to the debate and wondering how we're trying to achieve this change we're wanting to make sure firstly we remove the poll—because it's discriminatory—in time for the 2022 election. Councils will have until 21 May this year to make that decision. Those decisions will go through a full representation review committee process which has a consultation process within their ambit and then by the end of the year a full stage two process to ensure an enduring approach to the establishment of Māori wards and constituencies. But I see what's happening and I hear what's happening: they simply do not want Māori wards and constituencies to be established. But it will be too late because councils will have already made their decision. Many already have. They will have already gone down this road and it will be very hard to wind back—very hard to wind back—and I think that is really at the nub and the heart of the criticism on the other side of the House. Can I come back to the Schedule in the bill which makes it really clear what we're trying to enable for councils who will ultimately make the decision. Every three years citizens and ratepayers get to vote for those people who represent them around the council table to make decisions like this and many other things in the best interests of all New Zealanders. This isn't divisive. In fact this has been called for from many local government sectors—in fact 21 councils submitted on the issue in favour of it—and I'm really disappointed that members on that side of the Chamber are getting up to try and make this something it's not. The world has moved on. New Zealand has moved on. The short-term fix is to ensure the 2022 election actually opens the door to having more Māori participating in local decision-making. I think that's a good thing.