Voting Neglect

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 12, 25 December 1977, Page 1

Voting Neglect

The Citizens Association for Racial Equality (CARE) has now received a reply to representation made after the recent local body elections to

the Minister of Local Government (Hon. A. Highet). CARE complained (see

"Mana” Oct. 27-Nov. IO) that in Mt Eden and elsewhere no instructions were available in the various Polynesian languages, nor was any effort made to provide interpreters for people who do not speak English. In his reply dated 28th November, Mr Highet writes

"Prior to those elections voting instructions were translated by my Department into several Polynesian and Melanesian languages, the translations being freely available to any local authorities which requested them. Only a small numberof authorities in fact asked for copies and this may be a matter you could discuss with those local authorities in whose areas problems were encountered . . .”

"This letter reveals a scandalous neglect of the fundamental human rights of Polynesian voters,” said the President of CARE, Tom

Newnham on receiving the letter from Mr Highet. "It means that many Auckland local bodies, including the Mt Eden Borough Council, had access to the necessary translations but were hot prepared to make them available in polling booths, despite a specific request that they do so. CARE will certainly be taking this and other related matters up with the local bodies concerned in the near future.”