Editorial: Economic optimism good for council staff

Kelly Makiha

It's been a tough week at the Rotorua District Council with news several jobs are to go amid sweeping changes that hope to save our city $3.5 million a year.

Overall staff numbers are to be cut by 66, and while that doesn't automatically equate to 66 people (given some of the positions were already vacant and staff have opportunities to apply for others), there will be several families this weekend reeling from news they no longer have jobs.

The job losses are part of a massive shake up instigated by the council's new administration led by mayor Steve Chadwick and chief executive Geoff Williams.

We can't argue they are putting their money where their mouth is and are doing something about our ballooning debt.

They will be criticised for slashing the jobs and putting families in turmoil. But let's not forget why it's being done. As ratepayers we expect the council to work as efficiently as possible. It's our money paying those wages.

Clearly they believe the council was over staffed and they can manage with less.

Outspoken district councillor Mike McVicker has been at odds with the council in recent weeks over its proposal to have a greater Maori voice on the council but he supports this shake up.

He said it publicly last year when he called for at least 50 jobs to be cut and said this restructure was inevitable and would provide significant benefits to ratepayers.

Our front page story today about Rotorua's renewed sense of economic optimism will seem like a cruel irony for these staff members but in some ways this is good news for them.

In an economy that is doing better, other jobs will hopefully be easier to find.

I applaud Mrs Chadwick and Mr Williams for making the tough calls but at the same time our thoughts are with those who have had to bear the brunt of poor business decisions made by the previous council.