ECan in Exile, responding to the release of government’s ECan commissioners decisions on annual plan submissions, is alleging that the ECan commissioners where acting illegally when they wrote to 274 of the 430 ECan annual plan submitters saying they would not be heard on the democracy issues and is calling for hearings to be re-opened.

“To quote a famous customer focused businessman, Alan Martin ‘It’s the putting right that counts’ and that’s what the governments appointed ECan commissioners need to do correct their illegal actions of denying 274 of the 430 annual plan submitters their democratic speaking rights ,” ECan In Exile spokesperson Helen Isra said today.

“The commissioners do not have carte blanche to trample on all of Cantabrians democratic rights, the local government law says people must be given a chance to speak to their annual plan submissions, if they want to, but the commissioners have in effect denied 274 submitters that right and this calls into question the legality of their decision making process and the annual plan itself.” Isra said.

For those of you going to the protest rally have a quick read of the ECan in Exiles linked article, under their DEMOCRACY page tab, on How to Exercise Protest Rights in NZ

http://www.howtolaw.co.nz/html/ml177.asp

Of particular note is the part dealing with protests at indoor venues

Regards

Luke