Editorial hits the spot

Editor,

Kapi-Mana News is to be congratulated for its editorial in the March 13 issue.

One can but wonder, that if a European New Zealander’s organisation was to try and defend one of its members whose behaviour was arrogant, bombastic, antagonistic, rude and discourteous, whether they would have been allowed 40 minutes of council time to listen to threats, misinformation and attempts to justify such behaviour?

This, of course, would need to be reinforced by stating how wealthy and influential they were and at the same time stating that members of their organisation were also living in poverty – surely a contradiction in terms?

Why is it that additional staff time is so often not budgeted? Do council officers really have so much spare time that they can take on these extra roles at no additional cost?

However, pity the CEO who does achieve cost efficiencies. All it takes to undo the good work is a pet project approved in council outside the budget process and the CEO has to make it work. That seems to be the case with the super-city excess.

But what will the total cost be by the time the end is reached? $250,000 of ratepayer money spent against 58 per cent of polled citizens not wanting any change?

Isn’t it time councillors listened to their community before they spent money, rather than just offering the chance of ‘‘consultation’’ when the outcome is already firmly in sight?

(Election candidate) To clarify, the ‘‘extra’’ expense of $78,000 for two salaries were for existing staff members. Their time was allocated to regional governance matters, but their salaries had already been budgeted for – Editor. paid to our illustrious Members of Parliament and all their allied parliamentary staff that buzz around the Beehive enmeshed with Novopay.

After the screams of horror and shouts of ‘‘Infamy’’ ( ahh, the good old Carry on ... films ) I guarantee that within a week the best of brains from the local universities will have been ‘‘called up’’ into service to resolve the issue and all will be sweetness and light.

Or am I being cynical?