Time to raise the bar of acceptable behaviour
WILLIE Jackson has accused David Seymour (bachelor of engineering, bachelor of arts) as a ‘‘useless Maori’’. He has called out comments made by Dr Shane Reti (bachelor of human biology, medicine and surgery, and dip. of obstetrics) as ‘‘ridiculous’’ and ‘‘talking nonsense’’. He has sneered at Simon Bridges’ (bachelor of arts, bachelor of laws) tentative attempts at te reo, calling him a ‘‘total waste of b ..... time’’. All are of Maori descent. Willie Jackson, talk back host is a master of well, lets see . . . hot air?
By publicly insulting and belittling people within Maoridom, Mr Jackson elevates himself to a position of superiority, looking downwards on people who have diverse views to him. His inability to tolerate any form of diversity of people or opinion should be a red flag.
This should be cause for concern for both Maori and nonMaori. Is this the standard of debate we can expect from cogovernance?
The Maori Development Minister has set a very low bar of acceptable behaviour.
As Nelson Mandela said, ‘‘Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divide themselves by race, colour, gender or religion.’’ Lonnie Johnston
Huntly [Abridged]
Council coverage
WE wish to draw your attention to an issue with the lack of balanced reporting of council meetings by your newspaper.
The article ‘‘Workshops, hui to be added to induction programme’’ (ODT, 16.5.22) did not present a balanced overview of all councillors’ grasp of or misuse of standing orders, including points of order. The examples your reporter used were only of female councillors.
Further, there has long been an issue of balanced reporting of all councillors.
You only need to look at the photos used in Otago Daily Times articles and they are overwhelming male councillors who feature.
In looking to increase diversity around the council table, the issue of balanced reporting remains important.
We look forward to a more evenhanded approach to council reporting in the future. Sophie Barker, Rachel Elder, Christine Garey, Carmen Houlahan, Marie Laufiso
Dunedin city councillors
The ODT stands by its reporting of council matters. — Ed.
Mosgiel subdivision
THE letter ‘‘Mosgiel subdivision’’ you published (17.5.22) contains several errors of fact.
The most egregious is the suggestion that zoning land for housing increases the rate take.
As a community board member the author must know that is not how rating works.
The opposite is in fact true. Increased numbers of titles (and ratepayers) means that the ‘‘rate’’ set by council is divided up among more people.
Everyone therefore pays comparatively less. David BensonPope
Chairman DCC Planning and Environment Committee