Henwood Builders had sufficient ability and expertise to competitively be selected to build the new museum at Waitangi, and my own firm has recently awarded a substantial contract to them. Their work to date on that has been of a high standard, on time and on budget.
While it is understood that there must be a competitive tender process for a project of the size of the Northland College upgrade, it is reprehensible that a local firm of sufficient competency should not be seriously considered. It is one thing to lose out as part of a fair and open process, but to be ignored, and have correspondence on the matter completely unanswered, smacks of a hidden agenda. That Government officials hide behind a smokescreen of political double-speak only adds to the suspicion.
That Northland unquestionably needs the economic and employment boost of this level of capital growth only adds to the argument. Is it not a Northland philosophy to buy local where availability and competency exists?
Brian Morris
Whangarei
(abridged)
