- New survey data shows that 49.5% of elected members of local government have experienced racism or gender discrimination while in office
- 43% have experienced other forms of harassment, prejudice, threatening or derogatory behavior
- Nearly a quarter of the mayors and aldermen surveyed are not sure how to report harassment or discrimination
- The survey comes at a time when people in public office are facing an increasing tide of harassment, abuse and discrimination
Nearly half of elected members of the local government have experienced racism, gender discrimination or other forms of harmful behavior in their work.
The new Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) survey also found that of 105 respondents in 56 local authorities, 43% had experienced other forms of harassment, prejudice, threatening or derogatory behavior since taking office. .
Nearly a quarter of respondents said they were unsure how to report harassment or discrimination.
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Less than a third said they feel connected to other elected members in their workplace.
This comes amid an increase in personal attacks on people in public positions, with women and people from different communities bearing the brunt of the discrimination.
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LGNZ head Susan Freeman-Greene says there are more productive and inclusive ways for people to make their voices heard on important issues.
Wellington and Christchurch councilors blew the flute a culture of harassment and misogyny in local politics.
More recently, Auckland mayoral candidate Efeso Collins and his young family were nearly run off the road by members of the public and there was a reaction after a TV interview in which Mayor hopes Leo Molloy used slander and abusive insults.
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Examples of the online abuse received by the women on Wellington City Council and Porirua Mayor Anita Baker.
LGNZ President Stuart Crosby said the survey results were difficult to read.
“But to turn the tide, we have to start by recognizing that there is a problem and finding ways to address it,” he said.
Crosby said local democracies around the world are also struggling with councilors, mayors and other elected members being bullied or harassed at work.
“But that’s no excuse for not tackling it in our industry.”
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LGNZ President Stuart Crosby says the kind of behavior the study reveals jeopardizes progress on diversity.
In recent years, there was a small increase in the number of Māori, women and young elected members around the table.
This kind of behavior jeopardizes progress, he said.
Of the current mayors, councilors and other elected members, 40.5% are women, compared to 50.4% of the general population; 13.5% are Māori (17.1% of the general population) and the representation of multi-ethnic and Pacific communities remains low.
The average age of elected members is 56-60, with only 13.9% under the age of 40. This is despite the average age of the general population of 37.9 years.
Tatsuya Sasaki / Supplemented
Sylvia Yang, the first councilor candidate, says the abuse of female councilors in recent years has not deterred her. In fact, this lack of understanding and empathy pushes her.
At least two council candidates have quoted racism and lack of diversity as motivation to participate in this year’s elections.
Low turnout in municipal elections has declined over the past four decades.
In 2019, the proportion of eligible Kiwis who voted in the local government elections was only 41.7%, that raised issues of democratic legitimacy. This was in stark contrast to an 82% turnout in the 2020 general election.
CHRIS SKELTON
Christchurch councilor Sara Templeton approaches Netsafe after a fake social media account was used to troll her and other female politicians. (First published March 2022)
LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said she was concerned about the behavior and rhetoric seen in the early stages of the October campaign.
The campaign trail has been a powerful platform for positive change, so candidates should use it to engage with the important issues facing communities, she said.
“We know there is a more inclusive and productive way to make their voices heard.”
Although survey respondents represented a small sample of all elected members of the local government, LGNZ sought to gain more insights to better understand the scope of these issues.
Freeman-Greene said the members’ association also sought to ensure that local government was a safe and inclusive environment for all elected members and new candidates.
The government recently introduced the requirement for: Candidate residential addresses are published in campaign adsafter the LGNZ raised the issue of privacy and protection with the Prime Minister.
Candidates are now provided with a toolkit on how to run a secure campaign and stay safe once they are in the office. This includes a new code of conduct and induction program for those who are successful in the October elections.
On Monday, LGNZ also launched a clean and inclusive campaign guide developed with the Human Rights Commission.
Nominations for this year’s election open on Friday and close at 12 noon on August 12.