Mooney JosephJOSEPH MOONEY (National—Southland): Thank you Mr Chair. This clause is the nub of the issue really. It removes the ability for the public to for example demand a poll. The Minister the Hon Nanaia Mahuta has said that this is essential to ensuring equity and representation and to provide a Māori voice in local decision-making. What I would like to ask the Minister is why section 4 of the Local Government Act 2002 is not fit for purpose in ensuring that Māori have a voice in local decision-making. Section 4 specifically refers to the Treaty of Waitangi and it says that In order to recognise and respect the Crown's responsibility to take appropriate account of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and to maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local government decision-making processes Parts 2 and 6 provide principles and requirements for local authorities that are intended to facilitate participation by Māori in local authority decision-making processes."Section 82(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 says "A local authority must ensure that it has in place processes for consulting with Māori in accordance with subsection (1)." I note the word "must."Hon Kiritapu Allan: 82?JOSEPH MOONEY: 82(2). I note "A local authority must ensure that it has in place processes for consulting with Māori in accordance with subsection (1)."I know from speaking with a number of councillors and councils in my region that both district councils—and I have five in my electorate—and the regional councils—I have two—take that very seriously. I know they consult with local Māori on decisions that affect Māori in their rohe so to speak in the Southland region. I note further to this that the Christchurch City Council will not establish a Māori ward for the next elections. The idea was floated with iwi in October but the local authority was comfortable with the current relationship. So my question for the Minister is why these provisions which are already in place in the Local Government Act are not fit for purpose in ensuring Māori representation and having a voice in local decision-making. I know that I've spoken to contrary voices in my community who feel that Māori have an incredibly powerful voice in local decision-making in the local region. I accept that there's a balance that needs to be struck between those voices but I would suggest that there's already a very good provision in place in the Local Government Act to ensure Māori have a voice in decisions that affect them and their region. I will invite the Minister to explain why that's not adequate.Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Conservation): I thank the member for the question whilst noting that it's likely out of scope of clause 7 within this particular amendment bill. The Act that the member refers to of course isn't the one before us; it's the Local Government Act which does address those issues around equity. There are multiple means by which Māori are engaged across local government functions if you will. But the bill before us right now is focused on Māori representation at a council level. So the Local Government Act goes towards the operations the duties the functions the Treaty settlements that might deal with co-management arrangements governance over particular decisions and frameworks—and those will differ across the country depending on the nature of the environment. But what we're discussing here is representation at those local council levels which is a point that's a little different to the one I think that we're discussing today. I thank the member for his question."