In a Letter to the Editor (“Incorrect Re our Residents and Ratepayers”, 28 May), the writers state that they are distressed and disturbed to have been (in their view) wrongly associated (Editorial, The Informer, 21 May) with key goals as expressed by the ‘Alliance’ because these do not align with their values.
This is not only with their personal values but with the values of ‘their’ community (I assume, Kuaotunu, since the letter states that KRRA have withdrawn support of the Alliance).
In the letter, The Informer is being blamed of being strongly biased against the Council which caused the alleged ‘incorrect reporting’. The Informer has an excellent record of providing a voice for diverse views and probability is high that there would have been some miscommunication between parties. People call out bias when they do not see their views and values reflected. It would be interesting to see whether the same people would call our ‘Mainstream Media’ biased for distributing disinformation; maybe not so much.
It is hard to see how the letter writers’ emotive reaction, to the Alliance’s down to earth requests from the Council, will be conducive to allow for an educated and civilized debate about values.
The values debate on local government level has become more heated and political ever since the previous to current government repealed section 11A, “Core services to be considered in performing role” (Local Government Act 2002 amended in May 2019 by the Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Act 2019) introducing sweeping changes in line with the political flavour of the day.
These changes have opened the door for wide reaching interpretations with respect to the scope of local government activities. Councils can now, much more easily and legitimately, implement their political ‘values’.
During a time when many of us feel the economic squeeze, it would appear that asking the Council for financial prudence by focusing on ‘core services’ to keep the rates down, would go a long way to achieve overall ‘community-wellbeing’. Maybe some members of ‘our’ community might agree with that?
Disclosure: I am neither affiliated with any political party, not the Alliance nor the KRRA.
