Nat tempers fray one hour into two week hearing

We are one hour into two weeks of select committee hearings on the third super city bill. Twelve submissions have been heard so far, and all twelve have raised fundamental objections to the Bill and the Government’s super city project.

Unfortunately Government members seem to have forgotten that select committee hearings are the people’s forum, a time for people to turn up and have their say. Government members are irritable. Deputy chair Tau Henare openly ridiculed one submitter. Committee chair John Carter interrupted the submission of an elected councillor saying her views were inaccurate.  Taurange MP Simon Bridges said he was deeply offended by one submission.

My advice to Government members: pace yourself, there is a lot more of this to come.  Sit back and listen, you might learn something.