GEORGINA BEYER (NZ Labour--Wairarapa): I am delighted to be able to make a contribution to this debate. I begin by congratulating my colleague Mita Ririnui on bringing the bill forward. Also, I would like to congratulate and acknowledge the courage of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on bringing the bill into this place.

I know that it is not easy to discuss these matters, because of some of the issues that our Opposition colleagues have expressed, but I think there is some value in local democracy, and local democracy requires the ability of communities to make a decision amongst themselves, after relevant information, etc. has been received, and consultation has taken place. It is my understanding that that is what the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has done in bringing this bill forward to this House.

I support this bill going to the Local Government and Environment Committee. I am very pleased to be sitting on that select committee, because there is a diversity of views about this bill, and they need to be aired, and the public need to have an opportunity to make a contribution.

It was gratifying that Mr Peters made some acknowledgment of my electoral success, which I agree was stunning, but it was the exception rather than the rule as far as the representation of Māori in local government is concerned. Out of 86 local authorities in this country, members would be lucky to find more than 40 Māori elected members at either the community board, territorial local authority, or regional council level. A lot of what goes on in local government requires a huge input from Māori, particularly in respect of the Resource Management Act. But Māori having enjoyed---or not enjoyed---a relationship with the Crown regarding issues of national importance to them, now want to pay quite a lot of regard to their contribution to local government. They realise that it is the coalface of their communities, it is right there, and they can play an effective role. Well, Māori are not going to play a very effective role if they do not have adequate representation.

This measure is one method, which needs to be tested through the select committee process and all the debate that will go on there. We can bring in the debate about the single transferable voting system for local authorities. There are a lot of issues. We have to loosen the chain on local government. This bill is one request from a regional area, and I do not believe we should impede it, because that local community has decided it wants to practice local democracy, not apartheid as has been mentioned in this House this afternoon.

Not only that, but it is not incumbent on every other local authority in this country to take up what the Bay of Plenty Regional Authority is doing. It will be a good pilot, if one wants to look at it in that light, to test these things. It is a brave move. I congratulate Mita Ririnui on bringing this bill forward, and hope that, with support from all sides of the House, it will find its way to the Local Government and Environment Committee.