Ten years ago when I took on the task of being an inaugural board member of Tourism BOP I tried banging the drum to support telling our own stories and visitors would come and listen - if the stories were told on site in an inspiring and edu-taining manner.
One of the corner stones of this storytelling tourism was the Historic Village, as it had the potential to becoming an iconic attraction, if managed with the correct balance of vision and fiscal responsibility.
Then I met the person who I believe then and still do today, had bucket loads of both to breathe life back into the village, and I could almost smell the diesel from the hundreds of buses pulling up to experience The Village. That person was and still is Des Ferrow, who not only walked his talk but had a success track record second to none in this town.
However council and their tourism board in their infinite wisdom decided they knew better, and it was indeed a sad day when Des walked and took his talk and his talent with him.
Now today 10 years and $10million later, Tourism BOP has done four fifths to breathe life into any new attractions here in Tauranga and they should all be replaced by a new team who have the same balance of vision and fiscal responsibility as Des Ferrow.
That's if we want Tauranga to start telling its own stories that I know overseas visitors want to hear and experience.

Tommy Kapai, Te Puna.