Western Bays of Many District Councillors have decided to give Panepane Point a strategic piece of land and ratepayer asset at the entrance to Tauranga Harbour back to tribal interests under some treaty grievance.

The Council meeting held on December 17, 2015 Councillors at the request of the mayor supported by the two Te Puke Councillors excluded the public in relation to the transfer of ownership of Panepane Point some 200 hectare which has navigational aids positioned
on it to assist with shipping.

In the interests of transparency, why was the discussion not held in open meeting so the ideologies of the mayor and Councillors could be fully understood by us ratepayers and where the income from Panepane Point will go?

Council has initiate a process under an Act of Parliament which ratepayer assets will be given away willy nilly to tribal interests because they want them.

Forget the public consultation process, the decision has been made by Council which provides for the transfer of ownership based on the I want philosophy of tribal requests of local Iwi.

Can we expect in future that Western Bay Council will start giving assets willy nilly?

M Lally, Te Puke