As much as they would hate to admit it, there is a growing rift between Rotorua Lakes councillors. It has been brought about by the much publicised and talked about Te Arawa Partnership Proposal, which if you have not heard about it you must have been living under a rock.
From the outside looking in councillors now sit in two camps. Four councillors - Glenys Searancke, Rob Kent, Mike McVicker and Peter Bentley are members of the Rotorua Pro Democracy Society and are now seen to be supported in council meetings by a brigade of older, grey-haired, pakeha, middle class people with little blue badges on their chests with the letter "D" printed on them.
These people have automatically assumed the three Te Arawa affiliated councillors - Trevor Maxwell, Tania Tapsell and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait support everything the iwi have put in front of them. However, I have not heard them publicly speak out in support of the proposal as it stands, I have, however, heard them say they are fully supportive of the current public consultation process, which seems a sensible policy.
Members of the society have stated they are not pleased with how the mayor is running meetings saying their voices are not being heard or taken seriously. The group has always advocated for full public consultation, and now they have it.
Both sides have accused the other of pre-determination and council staff have told them they have, or are receiving, legal advice to ensure the process is legal and above board.
