Another good Mayor

The Herald reports:

Rotorua’s Mayor Tania Tapsell has been criticised for the way she “shut down” the country’s longest-serving councillor as he tried to ask a question.

The exchange between the pair followed two councillors’ notices of motion being declined at last week’s Rotorua Lakes Council meeting.

One was councillor Lani Kereopa’s request to vote on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, like other councils had.

Intended notices of motion are assessed by staff and the final say on whether they are heard is down to the chair of the meeting – in this case the mayor.

Ratepayers should be grateful to the Mayor for not having Councillors waste their time on meaningless gesture s that fall outside the Council’s remit. The views of Rotorua Councillors on foreign policy is not needed or wanted. They should follow the Mayor and focus on rates and infrastructure.