The resignation of the mayor of Tauranga was the right decision only he should have done it earlier.

He had not done an apprenticeship in Council such as being a councillor and then standing for Mayor.

He would have understood what leadership qualities are required to lead a council and why councillors are voted in - to put the views of people who vote for them. He would have understood why there is weak and strong councillors and those who do not do their homework and tend suck up to the mayor for advantages.

I note Heidi Hughes comments about Hollis and about the Treaty of Waitangi. It would have been better for her to keep the comments to herself as she has no knowledge about the treaty. The mayor and Councilors must have learnt from Western Bay Council over the Maori ward issue where councillors were left with blood noses as the vote neared 80 per cent to reject Maori wards.

Mr Powell's name-calling of those councillors he doesn't like has not helped and nor will it in the future.

The last thing Tauranga needs is Crown intervention or commissioners as Tauranga ratepayers will be no more than puppets on a string

M Lally, Te Puke.