Mayors make joint stand

Hawke’s Bay mayors are taking a stand against their regional council’s proposal to cut funding to a tourism body. Napier Mayor Bill Dalton, Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Alex Walker and Wairoa Mayor Craig Little will put forward a joint submission to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council opposing its proposed funding cut to company Hawke’s Bay Tourism. It proposed to slash funding to the company by $1.8 million over three years. Regional council chairman Rex Graham denied it was pulling support for the tourism industry, saying it was time for the company to support itself. ‘‘The ratepayer in Hawke’s Bay has funded them to quite a heavy extent, and it’s time for them to stand on their own feet.’’