Idiot turn of phrase or deliberately inflammatory? You be the judge:
Collins wants ‘monster’ Maori board dumped
National Party MP Judith Collins has called the Auckland Council’s Maori advisory board an “unaccountable monster” that thinks it’s “outside the law”.
This is the Maori advisory board set up by Collins’ very own Nat government of course, when they rammed through the formation of the Auckland supercity.
In her address as guest speaker at the [ACT] conference, the Papakura MP said the Independent Maori Statutory Board (IMSB) was neither elected nor accountable, and should be dumped. “The Maori statutory board is an unaccountable monster. It believes it is outside the law,” she said in her speech.
“I recall my experience trying to get some basic information about its members. The IMSB ignored the request and ultimately I had to get the Office of the Ombudsman involved.” Even under instruction from the Ombudsman, the board still refused to comply, she said.
I’m not even sure that, as an advisory body, this board falls within the Ombudsman’s remit (can anyone clarify?).
Anyway, looks like the Board is just following the example set by the Government. If Collins doesn’t like it, well pardon me if I can’t manage to muster up any sympathy.
National’s example: National have opposed and ignored the Ombudsman, and worked to systematically weaken the office. At a superficial count the Nats have also ignored:
The law
The High Court
The Bill of Rights
Its own Select Committee
A Royal Commission
Inland Revenue
The Law Society
Treasury
Due process
The public’s right to know
New Zealander of the Year Dame Anne Salmond
And that’s not to mention all the scientists and advisors that the Nats ignore as a matter of course.
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