I find it incredible that the Mayor of Western Bay District Council thinks it's OK to give away 172 Hectares of Matakana Island his council 'received at no cost”.

True, the land was inherited by WBDC in the 1989 local government reform.

Doesn't the Mayor and Council understand what kaitiaki means? Guardianship, in this instance for their ratepayers.

Even in that respect his council was lucky. That land was taken by the Government in 1923 for Tauranga Harbour Board purposes.

It really should have gone to Port of Tauranga (effective confiscation) or at least the BOP Regional Council which represents a far wider populace relating back to the Harbour Board days.

Port of Tauranga approached Western Bay about acquiring the land some 15 years ago and was turned down.

Fair enough - if land taken by the Government 100 years ago is now no longer required - my understanding is that it must be offered for sale back to the 1923 owners or their descendants at today's price.

Why hasn't Council disclosed the current value of the land plus a lot of other key information?

B Capamagian, The Avenues