Editorial: To support and inform central goals

(From left) Paul Whitaker, Property Brokers regional manager for Hawke's Bay, Kevin Swannell, Kiri Swannell, Andrew Austin, editor Hawke's Bay Today, with $5000 cheque for the Swannell's charity Limitless Hope.

Hawke's Bay Today has always been at the centre of the community as sponsor and promoter of a number of causes and events.

We believe it is our role to showcase the best of Hawke's Bay, so that is why we actively promote events like the Horse of the Year show, the Sports Awards and the Country2Coast, among others.

We are also aware of our ability to get things done by using our influence and profile to raise awareness for an issue. If we believe in something, we will do it.

A project that has inspired my team recently is the Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal, raising money and awareness for the Swannell family and their quest to establish a shelter for those who need it. It was amazing how our readers and the community responded. All that is needed now is some land to put the house on. I am sure that will happen shortly.

However, we also believe we have a role to play in providing information so that people can make decisions on the issues facing our region. That is why we are pleased to be able to hold a public meeting on the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme in Napier this week. I am pleased that the man leading the dam project, the CEO of Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company Andrew Newman, has agreed to speak at the meeting, along with his team. Opponents of the dam, Transparent Hawke's Bay, have also put forward a team to counter the argument.

I have been asked why we are holding the meeting in Napier and not Central Hawke's Bay, where the dam is located. The reason is simple - regional ratepayers, no matter where they live, will be picking up the tab for the dam if it goes ahead, so they should hear the pros and cons. Rest assured, this is not the only public meeting we will be facilitating. We are planning an Amalgamation public meeting in the next few weeks. More on that very soon.