Maintenance needed
I think maintenance at the Waipā War Memorial Park is all that is needed for the park seats and chain link fence, not replacement (The News, April 10). They are very well made and all they need is a clean and a paint. The chain link fence is very good strong steel. The eyesore is the gate if that was replaced it would look 100%. Council staff do not seem to want to listen to councillors, ratepayers, public. Council should be prudent with spending money on unnecessary items.
Compare the seats at other parks like ANZAC Green, the Rose Gardens, Selwyn Park, Rewi Maniapoto Reserve (Kihikihi), Walk of Fame and I-Site. Most are in need of a good clean and a paint job which is maintenance.
Although not a ratepayer in Waipā, as Arohena is mostly in Ōtorohanga district, Arohena has seven names engraved at the Waipa War Memorial although 10 men from Arohena lost their lives in WWII. Other places like Ngaroma and Kāwhia are also not in Waipā but have names of their dead engraved at the park so it is special to many people and communities around Te Awamutu.
Maria Blackwell, Arohena (abridged)
Letters to Editor
Fresh air
I support Ange Holt’s “Board Chair’s lament” (The News, April 10). As usual, Ange Holt is a breath of fresh air, and not afraid to challenge the “establishment” and represent those who bother to try and submit to council. Conflicts of interest procedures are so often misunderstood. The lower law is to declare your conflict of interest and then be muzzled. The higher law is to declare your conflict of interest, and then, do your best to set it aside, and consider the community viewpoint as a whole. This allows you to speak on the matter factually and impartially to assist everyone’s understanding, and to be subject to intense questions from the chair, councillors, board members, and staff. Setting aside their conflict of interest, the conflicted person makes a vote for the community as a whole. This higher way was advised by a lawyer well respected in governance matters.
With this higher way, when a “conflict of interest” arises, we voters get what we voted for – a person who has likely been elected because they are committed to do things, participate in community groups and listen to all those who have concerns. With the current lower way, someone with a conflict of interest and lots of knowledge on the matter, is effectively muzzled in a meeting, and voters, and the community, miss out.
Bring on the mayor’s, CEO and council committee chairs’ review.
Murray Downs, Te Awamutu
