Straight from city council with councillor Steve Morris

The answer is unequivocal, it's the people you vote onto council – but only if they have the strength to lead.

Councils operate a bit like a cruise ship. The councillors and the Mayor are the bridge officers; the CEO is the chief engineer and you are the paying passengers. In theory, the bridge officers should listen to the passengers, keep watch out the window, set a course and instruct the chief engineer to 'make it so”.

However, up and down the country and even at times in this city's past some bridge officers are more interested in being the entertainment than keeping watch.

Some don't look out the window at all while others wrestle for control of the wheel especially if the Captain is a bit timid. All the while, the chief engineer has locked the steering hard to starboard and the ship is going around in circles because he isn't getting coherent instructions from the bridge about where to go.

On Monday your newly elected council will be sworn in and we will have control of our city's direction for the next three years. Will we look to the horizon, debate and then set a clear course? Or will we abdicate our responsibility to you, the paying passengers and stand by as the ship wastes fuel turning around in a circle on autopilot?

You'll know by July 1, 2017, when the new council adopts its first budget.

I'm open to receiving your instructions, you can contact me on 07 542 1602. Email: [email protected] or see: www.facebook.com/SteveMorrisTauranga