Letter to the Editor - Thursday October 3, 2013

Lacking leadership
That was a very interesting editorial on September 24 regarding the Mayor's email to the CEO demanding that he engage legal counsel because he did not like what the Local Government Commission was doing. This behaviour might seem unusual to most, but sadly this kind of email is all too common within our council.

The language, the bullying, and the undemocratic demands happen on a regular basis.

This behaviour demonstrates the real problem with our district. Leadership of the kind we need is sadly lacking, and this has a detrimental effect on a wide range of other issues, including management. If we had a leader that was at least nice to people, not nasty, and put community interests first, not self-interests, then that alone would be a huge improvement.

If that leader then galvanised a team of councillors, with each of them working to their best ability according to their individual strengths, taking into account what each of our communities needed and could afford, we could start making big improvements to our district.

And, by the way, before anyone says "Isn't she one of Brownie's team?" I will say this; I was part of the team that was elected with him, but as far as I was concerned the moment those elected sat around the council table there was a new team, one involving all those elected to council. Unfortunately that has been but a dream; whilst we have the current leadership, a divide and rule mantra will apply instead.

Also, I did not give permission for my photograph to be included in Wayne's electioneering pamphlet, and he is wrong - I was not one of the unitary authority working party members.

My view re the LGC: the Local Government Commission is charged with hearing the views of as many people possible in the area that will be affected by a reorganisation of local government. Like a jury that sits in a court, we must trust that they listen to the facts, and make a fair judgement without attempting to influence their decision, apart from when they listen to our own particular views. And if that is contrary to our own views, we must understand that democracy has a price.

CR DIANNE MAXWELL Candidate, Bay of Islands - Whangaroa Kerikeri