Mawera Karetai

In response to Keith Melville’s letter in the Beacon last week.

I don’t want anyone to shut up. Quite the contrary, I want everyone to demand answers and question everything.

We are coming into an election that is already being plagued by mis- and disinformation.

My hope is that people will start to see it for what it is, but the work I am involved in now shows me that this is not the case. Most of the people reading this letter will be exposed to mis and disinformation in the form of articles (not in the Beacon), memes, images, social media posts, and videos every day, and for the most part will be blissfully unaware they are being tricked.

Education is damn important, in all its various forms. But all the education in the world does not amount to anything useful without curiosity, critical thinking skills, and being willing to do something with those things.

If someone tells you they are going to reduce rates, then your first question must be “how”? It’s a noob’s promise which cannot be kept, as evidenced by every other time that promise is made, in every other election, ad nauseam.

And, if someone is willing to make that promise, while at the same time demanding they can’t get access to all the financial information they want, then you must question their understanding of the role, and their ability to do well in it.

There is too much that needs fixing in this community for a learner driver to be driving the bus.  

My reference was in relation to his lack of understanding and to his making promises he should know he has no ability to keep.

Beware the maker of impossible promises – especially when they also state they lack the information they need to make the promise they just made.

In reference to the legal obligations of councillors – if our council was managing things as badly as you and others have suggested, then it would be in the national media, there would have been a review, and commissioners would be in place.  

Do I think they can do better? Absolutely, and I hope they do. But beware, without appropriate leadership, they could do a whole lot worse.