Council staff paid more than very well

Council-performance comparisons published in Hutt News last month indicate that Porirua annual rates are $340 more than Hutt City.

Porirua also has $1206 employee expenses per ratepayer, compared to $683 for Hutt City.

In Kapi-Mana News (June 17), we read in your editorial that Porirua City Council chief executive Gary Simpson is paid $312,000 per year, that five of his senior staff are at $200,000 or just under, and that 30 council employees are paid more than $100,000.

It does appear that our rates are going disproportionately to support high salaries of council employees.

As you say in the editorial – the council by and large does a competent job. Ratepayers would be happier if the council did a more-than-competent job, considering how much of our rates go to employee expenses. will not know.

It is a beautiful old building that sits on a little hill next to the fire station in Titahi Bay.

I am only assuming that the name came from the fact that there is a beautiful view of the sea and the horizon.

Horizons is under the umbrella of Wellington Aftercare Association.

The way people attend Horizons varies from one person to the next.

Some come in one door, say hello to everyone and leave out the other door.

Others attend for four or five days a week.

We all have varying degrees of mental illnesses and/or physical or intellectual difficulties.

For 22 years (since some of these people were ‘‘moved’’ out of the old Porirua Hospital – by order of the wise people in control), Horizons has provided a safe, supportive, empathetic, encouraging place for many people, including myself.

It has given many of us a sense of family, belonging, purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Many people have come and gone from Horizons.

Some have moved on, taken a job or, strange as it may sound, have other things in their life.

If I picture Horizons, I see it as a seesaw, with Horizons in the middle, offering balance in many people’s lives.

Even if just a little bit, it makes a huge difference when, myself included, we will probably need to do this for the rest of our lives.

The executive board of the District Health Board has made a decision to close this precious resource by withdrawing funding (which is minuscule by today’s standards) and putting the money into yet another ‘‘new’’ idea.

Most of the people who this affects are devastated by this closure.

Yet again, mental health is a target of cutbacks.

Before I go, did I mention that apparently this is not about money!