In spite of the overwhelming results in the Maori wards referendum from the people he has been chosen to represent – 78 per cent against them – the Western Bay of Plenty Mayor, Garry Webber, has chosen a reprehensible path to achieve his personal wish and give powers in decision-making to unelected Maori by creating new committees for them. Is that the office for which he was elected?

Mr Webber, what do you see as the requirements of your office? To carry out your mayoral duties to satisfy the will of the constituents who appointed you, and who expressed their wishes comprehensively in the poll on Maori wards? Or is it to gratify your ego by carrying out a personal agenda, and to appoint unelected Maori to advisory positions on new committees?

B Johnson, Omokoroa.

Mayor Garry Webber declined a right of reply.