Letters to the Editor
Stokes Valley News - February 2002

You are welcome to write to Stokes Valley News about any issue. Letters will be published at the sole discretion of the editor. You can write to editor@svn.co.nz, or you can use the online form at the bottom of this page.

Sir,
Congratulations on a first-class Issue #1, and very best wishes for the future. I look forward to reading the news and views.  And the ads!

Ian Lauchland
Stokes Valley

Dear Sir,

Democracy is dying in the Hutt Valley. This can be seen when John Terris' City Vision Team wanted to switch from a Ward system to City Wide.

Then there was the Water Trust which could have taken away our rights which are guaranteed under the Local Government Meeting Act and we would have had no access to the Ombudsman.

The independent review made these comments in consultation, it says, “the business of Council is complex and involves many tasks unfamiliar to the typical ratepayer. The democratic election process is not a necessarily appropriate process for the complex governance issue that faces councillors almost immediately on election”

Focus groups are a tool of modern management for collecting opinions and this is what is happening in the selection of Ward Committees. If you want democracy to stay alive in Hutt City, get along to the Hutt City Council meeting and demand it.

The meeting is on 7 February 2002.

Mike Grigg
Civil and Political Rights Activist
Wainuiomata

Look out Hutt News!!
What a great read. Just what the community needs.
Please keep them coming.

Best Regards,
Darryn, Brenda & Rochelle Plows

Sir,
The suggestion that the focus group organised by HCC to suggest the specifications for Ward Candidates was not representative of the various Wards is, I suggest, misleading for several reasons.
1. A broad selection of individuals was present at the focus group meeting including not only myself but others from a wide background in both business and local affairs.
2. There was even a well known Alliance Supporter in our group
3. At the meeting which was conducted by a research company there were no discussions concerning any of the candidates either by name, ward, occupation, political affiliation, and it seems that those who are saying that the system was undemocratic or may have been rigged is an insult to those of us attending who would have seen through it.
4. What was discussed in a round table forum for each ward was the attributes we would like to see in our Ward candidates which were then all collated and then each of us were then asked to vote (anonymously) on the list in order of importance. The attributes which scored highest would be forwarded to council to use when selecting the candidates
I suggest you contact HCC to get the results before suggesting it may have been rigged.

Frank Tyson
Stokes Valley

To the Editor,
I just want to take the time to commend you and every organiser behind this new online Stokes Valley news report. It's so valuable, up to date and encourages that community feel we have in a close-knit valley like our own. Pat yourselves on the back for getting in behind this - and it'll be really great when people start getting to know this site and want to add more events, links, classifieds etc. Congratulations on the hard work paying off. I'm sure this will be successful!

Amanda
Stokes Valley

Sir,
I would like to commend and congratulate the great work that has taken place on the park at the entrance of Stokes Valley, this improvement has attracted parents & families from around the region. Moving the playground facilities closer to the road, which has now become more recognisable to the public, and including a netball/basketball goal has also attracted older children to practise their shooting skills. This improvement is only one of many that Stokes Valley has progressed over the past year with the new development of our local New World and what used to be Scott Court has made me, a local, proud to be part of a suburb or region where we are going forward. Go Stokes Valley...

Terry Thompson
Stokes Valley

Sirs,
I received your flyer when I got home tonight, and thought I'd have a look around. To be honest, I was afraid of what I'd see, but was very pleasantly surprised with an intelligent site that seemed fully functional, well supported by advertisers and filled with content.  Well done! I congratulate you on a load of hard work, and am sure that you must be thrilled with the result.

I look forward to seeing the next issue online. That's when the hard work starts. Be warned, it's easy to start a web site but harder to keep it updated. All the very best to you for a successful 2002.

Regards,
Ian Halliday
Stokes Valley

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