Added to this is local sitting Tukituki MP Craig Foss, who despite being asked, doesn't appear to want to get involved.
The only way to now challenge these decisions is to build enough people power to hold Mr Foss and the Government to account.
When people start making enough public noise and take action things can happen.
It does take a whole lot of time, energy and resources to build a public fight, to have a strong voice and challenge Government.
But to get change, that's what communities need to do because when politicians begin to feel public pressure that could impact on their support base, they tend to listen more.
Just imagine what could happen if the people of Havelock North and Hastings got together and helped each other out. Where two communities from opposite sides of town stood side by side and challenged the Government's poor decision-making processes. Where they demanded a stop to having these decisions forced through, and called for the right to let communities to have their say first.
It wouldn't take much for the people in Havelock North to meet with the people in Raureka, Hastings, to talk about what's happening and come up with a plan to try to win their different battles.
Both communities want the same outcome, where children come first. Where children who are living in sheds can live in homes and a school is built closer to the children, their families and support networks, so they can learn and thrive in the best learning environment.
Instead of shutting people out of decisions and tearing local communities apart, if people who live in them had a say, I think we would see amazing results.
Sadly, this National Government has taken away the public's democratic right and instead continues to force its decisions on people. It is telling voters it knows best, to put up and shut up.
The residents and families in Arataki/Te Mata, Havelock North, in Campbell St, Raureka and the community of the Kura are all being treated with the same disrespect.
They have all had their democratic right to consultation before decisions are made that directly impact on their local communities taken from them.
Getting a U-turn on either decision is political.
Let's see who wins - the communities of Havelock North and Hastings fighting to put the best interests of children first or a Government wanting to keep face.
-Anna Lorck is the Labour Party's spokeswoman for Tukituki.
-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion, and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
