Simon Watts: Local Government Minister on the Government banning unelected members from voting on council committees episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 2, 2026 · 3 MIN

Simon Watts: Local Government Minister on the Government banning unelected members from voting on council committees

from Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive · host Newstalk ZB

The Local Government Minister says they're restoring democratic accountability to councils.  The Government's amending a bill currently before Parliament to bar non-elected council members from voting on committees.  It follows councillors in the Far North voting to expand a Māori liaison committee.  Simon Watts explained such examples give voting rights to people not elected by the community. "You've also seen instances in the last term with someone under the age of 18 being appointed onto Hastings Council. None of that stuff can happen going forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 2, 2026

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Simon Watts: Local Government Minister on the Government banning unelected members from voting on council committees

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