So, some misguided souls seriously think the Mayor and most Western Bay councillors are hard done by with criticism of their special agenda initiatives, in tandem with Maori interests, for race-based seats, which was defeated 78 per cent to 22 per cent.

On that basis, it seems while most councillors support racial privilege, 80 per cent of the public oppose this. Someone is out of step with reality and voters will get the chance to remedy that in 2019.

Not satisfied with that rebuff, separatists moved on, trying to wipe out community boards to be replaced with hand-picked committees, which tanked also. At the instigation of iwi and staff, council messed around with Tuapiro Point, attempting to ban horses from the beach, but that ploy failed too.

Clearly council supported Local Government New Zealand, Cull and Judd to lobby the Minister of Local Government, Nanaia Mahuta (also Minister of Maori Development) to entrench race-based Maori seats on councils. Despite her desire to oblige, that failed because the Coalition Agreement provides for no race-based legislation during this term of government.

These politicians never inform voters at election time, but once elected surreptitiously introduce stuff, hoping it will fly under the radar – well it won't!

R Paterson, Matapihi (Abridged).