Nga¯i Tahu may lose ECan seat

A bill which would guarantee Nga¯i Tahu two seats on future Environment Canterbury (ECan) councils is struggling to gain support in Parliament.

Labour says it is doing the numbers this week to see if it can get the apparently faltering Canterbury Regional Council (Nga¯ i Tahu Representation) Bill across the line for its first reading in the House.

However, the local bill will not get NZ First backing. Neither is it likely to get the support that ECan chairman Steve Lowndes hoped would come from Canterbury National Party MPs, according to shadow leader of the House Gerry Brownlee.

Brownlee told The Press it was ‘‘an inappropriate bill’’ that should instead have been introduced as a Government bill. It was an attempt to change the Electoral Act and that could not be done through a private bill. It was not a conscience vote matter and was unlikely to have National backing.

Lowndes has previously said ‘‘it might need blue and red to join together to get it across’’.

Yesterday he said: ‘‘We have always hoped that the National MPs would be given free rein to vote how they wish. I’ve always thought that’s what it hinges on.’’

He was concerned time was running out to get the bill, introduced at the end of November, made law before the October local government elections.

Labour chief whip Ruth Dyson told The Press she had ‘‘no idea really how the National caucus planned to vote’’.

‘‘We won’t be introducing it without a majority [in Parliament]. If we are going to get it through for this [local] election, it has to be done fast.

‘‘Hopefully we will know this week if we have the numbers.’’

Nga¯ i Tahu has been part of the ECan council since the former National government sacked elected councillors and appointed commissioners in 2010. The iwi’s current appointees are Elizabeth Cunningham and Iaean Cranwell.

The Environment Canterbury Transitional Governance Arrangements Act expires this year, ending the iwi’s automatic representation.

NZ First Treaty of Waitangi and Treaty settlements spokesman Shane Jones said he had nothing to add to a statement issued late last year.

‘‘New Zealand First does not support having appointed members for Environment Canterbury and will not support the . . . bill,’’ that statement said. Green Party Christchurch issues spokeswoman Eugenie Sage said the Greens would support the bill. ‘‘This is one way we can ensure there is strong Ma¯ori participation in local government.’’