OPINION: May be old-school, but tree's not for me

The Christmas tree in the central city has divided opinion. Photo/Andrew Warner

I was looking forward to seeing the city's new Christmas tree in all its finished glory.

I had done a double-take on first hearing the $20,000 cost, but calmed down when I learnt the tree was expected to last 15-plus years and well, I guess a 10m high outdoor tree is not something you can pick up cheap at The Warehouse.

The delay in getting it up was a bit disappointing-in my house and those of many others I have spoken to, they go up December 1. So the fact it wasn't up and finished up until eight days before the big day wasn't ideal.

The timing of the demolition of the City Focus meant we had to wait for cobblestones to be laid first, which incidentally will be pulled up again after Easter. Still, not wanting to be a Christmas grinch, I eagerly went to check it out on Thursday evening.

My reaction was the same as some of the passersby we spoke to yesterday. "Is that it? Is it not finished?"

Beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder and its sleek, minimalist design may be beautiful to some. And as the council told us, it's practical and designed to withstand wind. Call me old fashioned but a Christmas tree should have branches. Green, bushy, lovely branches.

Hence the song. Maybe next year we could all throw a few dollars in to buy some more branches. And give our residents and visitors more time enjoy it.

After all, Christmas comes but once a year so we may as well get our money's worth.

There was plenty of emotion at Te Papaiouru Marae yesterday with the inauguration of the new Te Arawa board and the formal signing of the partnership agreement with Rotorua Lakes Council.

Mayor Steve Chadwick shed tears as she talked of the "naysayers" who said it couldn't be done. The partnership agreement is just one of several controversial projects and initiatives Mrs Chadwick has overseen since she has been in the top job.

The latest, her decision to strip councillor Glenys Searancke of council roles due to an alleged conflict of interest and the subsequent decision to hold discussions on the topic in secret, has prompted a lot of talk on social media, on the street and in letters to the editor (hence the extra opinion page in today's edition).

A Tauranga acquaintance commented recently how boring their council seemed next to the ongoing dramas at the Rotorua Lakes Council. But in this case boring may be a good thing.

The spats, accusations and division in the ranks must inevitably be taking time and energy away from what our council was elected to do-run the city. It's time for all concerned to sort it out.