NZ First, National vote down Environment Canterbury Māori seats

New Zealand First has sided with National to vote down a bill that would have created permanent iwi seats on Canterbury's regional council, Environment Canterbury. The Ngāi Tahu Representation Bill, in the name of Labour's Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene, failed to get the backing of New Zealand First and the National Party. There are two Ngāi Tahu representatives on the council, but under existing governance legislation those roles will expire before October's local body elections. Rino Tirikatene tells RNZ reporter Te Aniwa Hurihanganui the outcome of the Bill's first reading was a step back for the region.