A Government MP has accused the Human Rights Commissioner of making deeply offensive comments after referring to democracy in Canterbury and Nazi Germany.
The accusation occurred during submissions to a parliamentary committee considering legislation allowing government-appointed commissioners to continue to run the Canterbury regional council.
MPs were told the extension to the current arrangement for the regional council is unnecessary and undemocratic.
Human Rights Commissioner David Rutherford said the arrangement is anti-democratic and flies in the face of what New Zealand soldiers have fought and died for in the past.
National MP for Nelson Nick Smith took umbrage at this.
The committee was told the Government cannot keep using the earthquakes as an excuse to block elected representatives from serving on the council.
