Hefty rate increases and a lack of transparency are partly to blame for recent online abuse directed at members of the South Wairarapa District Council, one community member believes.
Mike Hughes expressed his disappointment on Facebook over the weekend that “aggressive and abusive reactions from some members of the community” had been significant enough for Featherston councillors to cancel an informal catch-up community event on Friday.
However, Hughes told the Times-Age that he can also understand why there is anger boiling over in the community.
“The new mayor came in with the councillors, and they gave some commitment to look at the rates and make them more manageable.
“Then this year we see a similar increase to the past few years,” Hughes said.
“So I think a number of things have come together, and obviously a few hotheads have exploded into aggressive and abusive behaviour that’s totally unacceptable.”
While it is legitimate to call out promises that aren’t delivered, Hughes said, aggressive behaviour and abuse are well over the line.
“I don’t doubt that these people we elected are doing their best and they want what’s best for the community,” Hughes said.
“We want our representatives to hold meetings with us and be held to account, but we don’t want them fearing for their safety and being abused.”
Referencing perceived attitudes of discontent with public services and infrastructure in Featherston, Hughes said he believes there needs to be better transparency on the part of the council.
“What money has been spent in Featherston, and what improvements have been made, that people like me are unaware of?” Hughes asked.
“Perhaps the council need to be more transparent about what they’re doing.”
As an example, Hughes noted that he has asked the council if it is able to differentiate between essential and discretionary spending, a question that the council hasn’t provided an answer to.
“It hasn’t given an answer as to why it invested $300,000 in a campsite in February, so there’s all these questions that people have,” Hughes said.
“If you have a council that is unable to identify what is essential spending and what is discretionary spending, then I think we’re in trouble.
“It perpetuates the feeling that we’re being asked to make significant payments for the council in our rates, and we’re not being treated fairly.”
Regardless, Hughes is adamant there is no excuse for abusive or threatening behaviour towards council staff.
“They’re just individuals, and if we’re not careful, they won’t want to do it anymore,” Hughes said.
“What happens then, if we have people dropping out because they’re afraid they’re going to be threatened?”
District council members don’t run the council CEO AND FULL time managers run it. Council members are required by government 🙄 🤔 to help run NO ? DON’T know 😕 95% has already been done by managers.