Editorial: And now for the hard part

Attendees at the information session about the proposed Te Arawa Partnership Model, held at the Ngongotaha Hall.

As you've seen on these pages during the past 10 to 11 months a lot of people have had a lot to say about the proposed Te Arawa partnership model.

This has been reflected in the number of submissions made before the close-off date last Friday, with nearly 1900 received by the Rotorua Lakes Council.

This has been a long process - fitting given it's an important issue - and it has engaged a large number of people, with hundreds turning up for information sessions, including those run by the Pro Democracy Society, and more than 1400 people signing petitions.

There's great passion on both sides of the argument and it's encouraging that in a debate with democracy at its heart so many people care so much they're driven to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards) to have their say.

Councillors, with the help of council officers, now have a mammoth task ahead of them to read, hear, process and consider the views of the district.

Given the furore over the issue and robust argument from both sides, it will take incredible focus from all involved to separate the submissions from the emotion.

Some councillors on both sides of the debate have already made their feelings clear and will need to be seen to give opposing views a fair hearing.

Good points have been made all round and good points from both sides have been written off for the wrong reasons.

This process needs to be robust, or its outcome will be tainted.

The community has been split in its opinions on this issue. The community now needs strong leadership to guide it along this rocky path and bring it back together.

And given the size of the task ahead, that's going to be tough.