9 June 2022
Dr Duncan Webb MP
Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
VIA EMAIL: duncan.webb@parliament.govt.nz
CC: Clerk of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee – fe@parliament.govt.nz
Kieran McAnulty, MP for Wairarapa - kieran.mcanulty@parliament.govt.nz
Anna Lorck, MP for Tukituki - anna.lorck@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Stuart Nash, MP for Napier – stuart.nash@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Meka Whaitiri, MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti - meka.whaitiri@parliament.govt.nz
Bring Parliament to the people: An invitation from Hawke's Bay Mayors
Tēnā koe Dr Webb
We would like to invite the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee to hold hearings in Hawke’s Bay for local people who wish to be heard on their submission to the Water Services Entities Bill (Government Bill 136—1).
The Water Services Entities Bill puts in place the structure for a major, intergenerational programme of reform with far-reaching implications for our communities now and in the future.
By restricting public feedback to one formal, Parliamentary channel – the Select Committee process – the Government has not made it easy for people to reply, whether to endorse, challenge or suggest alternatives. Making a submission to a Select Committee might be bread and butter work for lobby groups, but it’s not something local people do every day.
We are, however, strongly committed to making sure our communities know what’s proposed and what it means for them, and to making sure people understand it is now up to the public to express their views to Parliament.
We also believe this should be a conversation being held across New Zealand, not one confined to a Select Committee room in Wellington.
For these reasons we’re proposing a win-win solution for democratic debate, one that challenges the perception of ‘have your say, but only if it’s our way’.
We invite you to bring Parliament to the people.
Dr Webb, we look forward to your positive reply and to hosting the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee very soon. Having Government Members here to listen in the Bay would be a win for our people, our community and democracy, and would better enable crucial debate on legislation that will affect everyone who lives in our beautiful region.
Our contact for your response is Toni Goodlass, Regional Programme Director Hawke’s Bay Five Councils, toni.goodlass@napier.govt.nz, who will liaise with the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee Secretariat to arrange your visit.
Nāku noa, nā
Alex Walker, Mayor of Central Hawke’s Bay
Chair of the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Forum
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