Elected Officials Only on Council Committees

The government is cracking down on unelected appointees voting on council committees, pushing through a bill to ensure only elected officials decide how ratepayer money is spent. Minister Simon Watts argues this restores democratic accountability, citing public and council feedback from regions like Northland and Tauranga. While Treaty settlement committees remain exempt, most subcommittees will lose voting rights for non-elected members. This move is part of a broader local government overhaul, including the planned 2028 phase-out of regional councils—with regional communities set to lead their own redesign. Watts believes the public will back this shift, as it aligns with the principle that those spending public funds should be chosen by the people. The ultimate goal: a simpler, more efficient system that cuts costs for ratepayers. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fbb5b6d1ddb02efb