ACT: Time to end voting rights for unelected council appointees

ACT Local – the Party’s local government ticket – released its Democracy policy in Wellington today, which includes a commitment to oppose voting rights for unelected appointees.

Meanwhile, ACT’s spokesperson for Local Government, Cameron Luxton, has written to the Minister for Local Government and drafted an amendment to the Local Government Act that would give effect to this stance at a national level.

“With rates climbing and households squeezed, the people deciding how to spend ratepayers’ money ought to be held accountable. But right now, we’ve got councils appointing unelected people to committees with full voting rights," says Mr Luxton.

“These members are often appointed by mana whenua, but we’ve also seen Hastings District Council give voting rights to unelected youth councillors, and LGNZ's council rules template suggests all sorts of ‘experts’ and representatives could be appointed alongside councillors.

“These appointees never face the voters, but their decisions have a direct impact on household budgets. That undermines democracy and it undermines trust.

“ACT has no problem with councils bringing in outsiders to provide advice. But the power to vote should belong with elected representatives, not people handpicked behind closed doors. If you want a vote at the council table, you can stand in an election and make your case to voters like anyone else.

“ACT’s coalition agreement has restored communities’ right to vote on Māori wards. But some councils may be tempted to counter a public vote against Māori wards by turning around and appointing unelected representatives anyway, along the lines of Auckland Council’s Independent Māori Statutory Board. Meanwhile, we’ve seen cases, such as in Tauranga and Wellington, where both Māori ward councillors and unelected mana whenua appointees sit across the same table.

“Ratepayers are struggling under rising bills. The only real accountability mechanism they have is the ballot box. If you’re paying the bills, you should be able to choose who’s spending your money.

“My hope is that ACT’s proposal to end voting rights for unelected appointees will be adopted as an amendment to the Local Government Act. But local councils could just implement this change themselves. New Zealanders now have a chance to vote for ACT Local council candidates who will work to end voting rights for unelected appointees.

“ACT Local councillors will also oppose Māori wards, co-governance, progressive procurement, and race-based spending and consultation.”

ACT Local's Democracy Policy: Equal Rights. Equal Say.

Local issues of rates and roads can be addressed without dividing the community by race.

Equality before the law and local democracy are critically important. ACT Local candidates believe all New Zealanders are alike in dignity, and political rights should not depend on who your great-grandparents were.

Local government should reflect these democratic values and treat all citizens equally, including by ensuring only those elected by the public should have the power to make decisions on their behalf.

ACT councillors will:

• Oppose Māori wards that give voters different political rights depending on race.

• Oppose co-governance arrangements, such as joint-management agreements, that hand decision-making powers to unelected iwi.

• Oppose race-based services, funding, jobs, and consultation rights: council decisions based on need, merit, or value, not identity.

• End progressive procurement policies that award contracts based on who someone’s ancestors were, rather than who can deliver the best service at the best price for ratepayers.

• Oppose unelected decision-makers. Only publicly elected representatives should have the right to vote or be paid for decision-making roles on councils, committees, or subcommittees that spend ratepayer money or determine policy. That means:

  • No unelected iwi representatives with decision-making power.

  • No unelected youth councillors or under-16s sitting on council committees, as attempted by Hastings District Council.

  • No other unelected appointees from business, environmental, or community groups with voting rights.

On unelected decision-makers:

These groups are welcome and encouraged to participate through submissions – just like everyone else. Unless they’re putting up the money, they shouldn’t decide how it’s spent.

The principle is simple: if someone spends ratepayer money or restricts how people use their property or live their lives, they should be someone voters can kick out.

Nothing in this policy would prevent the council from appointing suitably qualified individuals to the board of Council Controlled Organisations, where they bring professional expertise, clear accountability, and protection against politicisation that councillors themselves should avoid.