A reader says selecting councillors should be more like selecting trustees for Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust. Photo / File
A little courtesy
So Jackie Evans (Letters, August 20) saw a patched gang member helping a little old lady across the road. How touching.
Mind you, I guess they have to do something when they're not too busy selling methamphetamine.
CC McDowall
Rotorua
Hats off to trust
Don't the flowers around Rotorua City look wonderful? Warmest thanks to the council's gardeners.
Similarly, hats off to the quality of governance in Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust.
This prestigious organisation continues to retain the confidence of its stakeholders by organising the orderly transfer of power to new trustees using democratic election processes prefaced by non-negotiable standards of experience and qualifications.
The minimum qualifications for nominees for election are (a) seven years of experience in Māori Land governance or administration, or in law, commerce and management, and (b) an NZQA approved tertiary qualification in Māori Land administration or business administration or management.
Behind these minimum qualifications is the trust's rotation policy that both honours the past service of trustees and refreshes governance by attracting new trustees with appropriate experience and learning.
In my view, while public service organisations such as councils operate in a different realm than Māori land management, this rotation policy using mandatory experience and qualifications directly relevant to effective governance, should be applied in the public good.
Especially if contested by current incumbents who, in my view, fail to meet such minimum standards.
Reynold Macpherson
Rotorua
A disregard for authority could be why those attending court are thumbing their noses.