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Opinion
Home / Gisborne Herald / Opinion

Crossing a political line

Opinion by
Gisborne Herald
1 Apr, 2024 07:39 PMQuick Read

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A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

On the issue of “rainbow crossings”, there have been strong feelings expressed on both sides, in some cases somewhat intemperately.

Whatever one’s views on this particular issue, one thing most of us can agree on is that rainbow crossings amount to a form of political statement. Otherwise, why should so many people get so hot under the collar about it?

Support for the rainbow crossing does not, in my view, validate the concept, any more than opposition destroys the case against them.

No, the question for discussion is whether a local council should make such a political statement, or indeed of ANY kind, particularly at the expense of ratepayers, many of whom would be on the other side of the issue.

If, in taking this more detached view, some people were to take this as evidence that I am covertly an opponent of rainbow crossings, that would suggest they would equate objectivity with opposition.

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Martin Hanson

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