YOUR LOCAL NEWS

The council’s investment in the skifields is an interesting decision and one that tests the opposing views on council spending.

The fact that both the Ruapehu and Taupo¯ District Councils both felt the need to hide their discussions on the subject from the public prior to the public announcement last week is interesting.

In fact, the Ruapehu District Council was so afraid of spooking the Government that it threatened Stuff [owner of the Taupo¯ Times] with a court injunction to stop it publishing leaked details of the deal, prior to the official announcement.

The Taupo¯ District Council made its million dollar decision in a meeting that was closed to the public last week - why? A fear of bad publicity is no reason to keep information from the public.

Whatever your views on the quality of this investment, I can’t really see any justification for keeping this decision out of the public eye until it was a done deal.

You never know, the public might be in overwhelming favour of the idea. General inquiries: 07 378 9060, Editor: Daniel Hutchinson, 027 809 6854, daniel.hutchinson@stuff.co.nz, News: Steph Rangi, 027 204 2914, steph.rangi@stuff.co.nz, Robert Steven, 027 204 2904, robert.steven@stuff.co.nz, Tamara Thorn, 027 564 7168, tamara.thorn@stuff.co.nz Senior Sales: Graeme Goldsbrough, 027 204 2906, graeme.goldsbrough@stuff.co.nz, Classified ad’s: Lynne Webb 07 378 9060, lynne.webb@stuff.co.nz, Postal: PO Box 205, Taupo. Deliveries: Dave McEwen 07 378 9060, circulation@waikatotimes.co.nz, fixmydelivery.co.nz