Letters: Rotorua has spoken over co-governance

A letter writer advises Reynold Macpherson now moves on and leaves Rotorua to flourish under the leadership of Steve Chadwick. PHOTO/FILE

Failed mayoral candidate Reynold Macpherson believed voters should treat the
election as a referendum on Rotorua's co-governance partnership.

Well, Rotorua has spoken, and in my opinion based on that has approved of
the co-governance model by re-electing mayor Steve Chadwick.

I was aghast after reading Mr Macpherson's Letter to the Editor (Opinion, October 10), where, in my view instead of being gracious in defeat, he blamed his second failed bid at council on Rob Kent.

Mr Macpherson makes what I believe is the wild assumption that if Cr Kent stepped aside then Kent's 3290 votes would have instead gone his way, giving Mr Macpherson a slim 564 vote advantage over Chadwick.

Seventy per cent of people who voted voted for a candidate other than himself, giving little credence to his assumption of election success had Cr Kent stepped aside.

With five of the seven RDRR-endorsed candidates failing to gain a seat at the council table, Rotorua has, in my opinion, sent a clear message to Mr Macpherson and the RDRR that their policies are out of step with the majority and not wanted.

My advice to Mr Macpherson is to honour the principles of his beloved democracy.

The people have spoken. Move on, and leave Rotorua to flourish under the leadership of Steve Chadwick.

(Abridged)
RYAN GRAY
Rotorua

Gould criticised over Wepa comment

I take issue with Mark Gould when he claims that the Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers went after Janet Wepa with a vengeance (rotoruadailypost.co.nz, October 9).

The organisation went after nobody with a vengeance.

It was a campaign fought on the issues, not personalities.

To conclude may I just say that "No other sport requires less aim than the mental gymnastics of shifting the blame".

(Abridged)
A J MACKENZIE
Rotorua