Unelected committee members could become 'lame ducks' under new law, says mayor

The change could have the unintended consequence of weakening governance, says Mahé Drysdale.

It is puzzling the government is removing voting rights from unelected committee members at the same as it is handing a third of all council business over to unelected water companies says Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced on Tuesday that the Local Government Act would be changed so appointed members would not have voting rights on council committees.

The move followed a social media furore over the Far North District Council's Māori liaison committee, which has 10 appointed iwi and hapū representatives to six elected members.

All committee members can vote, but their decisions have to be approved by the full council.