YOUR PAPER, YOUR PLACE

tHE COUNCIL ELECTIONS ARE LOOMING AND VARIOUS CANDIDATES, NEW AND RETURNING, HAVE STARTED TO LOBBY THE MEDIA FOR COVERAGE. iF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT CROP OF COUNCILLORS, CAN WE REALLY SAY THEY ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIVERSE POPULATION OF OUR CITY? aRE THERE ENOUGH YOUNG PEOPLE ON COUNCIL? aRE THERE ENOUGH WOMEN? aRE THERE ARE ENOUGH mAORI, aSIAN OR OTHER ETHNICITIES ON OUR COUNCIL? tHIS COULD BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR SOME NEW FACES, AGES AND CULTURES TO BE PART OF A GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR GUIDING THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. sOMEHOW WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE ABOVE GROUPS TO ACTUALLY VOTE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO STEP FORWARD AS CANDIDATES. tHIS COULD BE A GOOD DISCUSSION TOPIC AROUND THE FAMILY TABLE TONIGHT, OR FOR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEERS GROUPS, MARAE AND HAPU, TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE THEY WANT ON COUNCIL. dO WE WANT TO SEE CHANGE OR IS HAMILTON ¢ITY ¢OUNCIL ONLY FOR MIDDLE-AGED, RETIRED FOLK?

lAWRENCE GULLERY

Family fundraiser, Sunday, July 31, Cafe Botannix Rototuna, $5 entry fee, 3pm-4pm.

Disney On Ice Magical Ice Festival, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, August 10-14. Tickets through Ticketek: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538)