Polls on Ma¯ori wards would save time and money

The Government has prohibited local polls that veto councils’ decisions to establish Ma¯ori wards.

This means that instead of a large group of citizens (democracy) choosing “yes” or “no” to having Ma¯ori wards, a small group of “councillors” get to decide. This insinuates that councillors are more intelligent, or qualified to make the decision, than the people who voted them into council.

Then (here is where it gets expensive to ratepayers) a council then seeks “feedback from the community” before making a final decision.

Is that not what the local poll would have illustrated?

Councils will spend countless months of their time (wages), thousands of dollars’ worth of newspaper adverts, fliers, brochures, not to mention endless meetings, in pursuit of an answer from the public, that would have been handed to them for free.

No wonder council has no money in the kitty for important infrastructure upgrades.

The hidden agenda in this situation is “Government/councils plan and orchestrate meetings in order to achieve a desired result — or they do not hold them”. (abridged) Graham Clark

Waipukurau

Take the blinkers off

Last week, we in Hawke’s Bay had political rumblings from Mick Hosking re the brain drain and criticism of Government actions in Hawke’s Bay Today. This week we have further political rumblings from Kere McIvor about MSD.

In both cases these people are part of the NZME media group, both have radio talkback shows, both live in Auckland, both fail to understand that there are New Zealanders who are not privileged as they are, both need to take their political blinkers off and provide balanced reporting.

How about acknowledging that NZME received the wage subsidy and funds from the media support package using taxpayers’ funds, or don’t these people think of that?

No doubt both use other taxpayerfunded services as well, education for their child, the odd subsidised GP visit, the odd subsidised prescription and the list goes on. (abridged) Graham Booth

Taradale

A Havelock hazard

I note with interest that two raised pedestrian crossings are to be built in Havelock North, one near the library and the other in Napier Rd.

Why has there been no provision for a crossing near the Mary Doyle Retirement Village? To my knowledge, there have been a number of “near-misses” with disabled and sight impaired residents attempting to cross Karanema Dr. Surely this is a vital requirement for the safety of aged care residents.

M Jamieson Havelock North

Giving Ma¯ori cause for hope

Re Talking Point by Rob Rattenbury, May 4. Thank you for explaining so clearly the conditions that we as Ma¯ori endured and endure still living in our own country. I have experienced all and more of what you explained for most of my life. Anger and hurt resulted and sadly still does because racism is alive and well. However, thanks to people like you, and especially our younger generation there is hope for better understanding.

Lily Hutana-Wilcox

Porangahau