Honest admission a refreshing start

John Maslin

There was a moment at the first full meeting of Whanganui's new district council on Tuesday when newcomer Hadleigh Reid sounded like an innocent abroad.

Mr Reid, the highest polling candidate and one of seven new faces around the council table, was speaking to a lengthy item around changes to the District Plan. His comment was that he was faced issues at council about which "I haven't got a clue".

There were some embarrassed chuckles but the new councillor was making an honest admission that he was faced with detail that he had never encountered before. He probably spoke for some others too.

Mr Reid is a professional - a dental surgeon in fact - so there's no doubting his ability to comprehend. But like all others new to the role of local government those first few meetings will be daunting.

The council's District Plan is a good example of the huge amount of detail that will swamp councillors for the next three years. And there will be other issues which councillors will have to get up to speed with.

Mr Reid should be applauded for his confession. He admitted some things were foreign to him but more importantly he was prepared to acknowledge that shortcoming. Better to have put his hand up now than wing it for another three months or, Heaven forbid, another three years.

Our district council is a big beast, dealing with millions of dollars and certainly isn't dominated by one single issue. It will have hundreds of issues on its agenda in the years ahead.

Mr Reid's frank admission is refreshing because it showed he is prepared to question and that is a very positive start.