I argued that, while the games bring people and money into our city, they last only for a week or so every two years -- not nearly enough to sustain viable investment in accommodation or other visitor facilities.
I appreciate the enormous voluntary effort that makes the games possible, but I have been disappointed by the lack of innovative management that should have refreshed each iteration of the games to keep competitors coming back in increasing numbers.
If succeeding councils had been more rigorous in insisting that such grants were once-only start-up finance, then they could help more events with money that would be repaid and recycled for the next good idea.
STEPHEN PALMER
Whanganui
Borrows trial
I held a modicum of sympathy for Chester's embarrassment at having to appear before the court, even though he felt it unnecessary to live by the laws he enacts for the rest of us.
That was until I saw him on the Back Benches programme. Not one word of regret or apology has ever passed his lips.
To all who join in scoffing, ask yourselves how you would feel if it was your own mother, grandmother or great grandmother (all of which I am) who was deliberately hit by Mr Borrows. I say deliberately because that is what he declared in court, that he made a decision to keep driving at us and not wait for the police to do their job.
Neither the loud, abusive woman nor the dildo waver were part of our group. We had asked both of them to desist.
To Mary Ann Ewing (letters, May 20): Tracey did not bring the case against Mr Borrows -- the police did.
The Crown prosecutor apologised to me prior to going into the courtroom. He said he was handed the case file one working day before the trial,leaving no time to interview us.
Was it mismanagement or manipulation, given the police had had over a year to prepare?
D LOCKETT
Whanganui
People's will
Several readers have taken issue with various elements of my essay on Chester Borrows' recent courtroom performance when he faced a charge of reckless driving, causing injury. I read these comments with an open mind.
I am grateful for this opportunity to elaborate on the central issue of the events which led up to the protest by Ms Lockett and Ms Treadwell.
There were several marches and assemblies in Majestic Square expressing opposition to the New Zealand Government's eager signing up to the TPP. During the first of these, I happened to be present and expressed my concerns about the secrecy of the negotiations and the heavy thumb on the scales by the multinational corporations. Some of these had pretend headquarters in the US but little loyalty to the citizens there or indeed anywhere.
Mr Borrows was there and spoke. He made some remarks critical of the US, but in addition he gave assurances that once the agreement became publicly available, the Government would undertake wide-ranging consultation with the citizens. Perhaps that was true for other cities, but not in Whanganui.
As with several issues of importance to our local economy, the Government simply ignored its commitment.
That made the protest of Ms Lockett and Ms Treadwell inevitable and indeed necessary, as it was done for all of us: TPP proponents and opponents alike.
We owe them gratitude for their effort to reinforce basic tenets of democracy, that government needs to engage to gauge the will of the people.
JAY KUTEN
Whanganui
