This LGNZ outfit is a joke. Currently five of its councils are facing polls on the question of Maori wards. President Cull has written an open letter to Ms Mahuta, Minister of Local Government, whinging about legitimate polls on race-based council Maori ward seats. Well this lot had it coming to them because in most cases elected members had never promoted this aberration on their 2016 electoral platforms.

Once elected, they sought to stick voters with their own-race-based mind-sets and little agendas, usually without consultation. That is not democracy, it's authoritarian behaviour.

Remember a poll is no guarantee the proposal will not succeed so where is the problem? It is simply giving voters a say, not blindsiding them. There's nothing wrong with referendums on all major issues but LGNZ clearly know the public are not with them and there is no place in NZ for race-based politics or special reserved representation based on ethnicity, as promoted by LGNZ. Conclusion reached is that these bigots are poor losers.

As someone opposed to local authority wards per se, I have no problem in extending right to a poll on all ward seats because community boards can address special local issues.

R Paterson, Matapihi.