Transparency need not mean stupidity?
I noticed in a couple of recent issues of The Weekend Sun, letters written by TECT hopeful Mark Groos and his team. If I remember rightly he came up with several strange notions at a previous election which were completely demolished by a record number of voters at a special (and costly) referendum he forced onto TECT voters at that time.
It seems like we are on the same path yet again.
This time he suggests the TECT Board acts in a secretive manner with important decisions being made in private, without public participation or scrutiny. He specifically appears to target a lack of 'transparency”. I find this notion rather strange.
If Mr Groos is suggesting that the actual Board deliberations, where they discuss the merits or suitability of the many applications they receive; be open to the public, this would make a complete mockery of the process and totally inhibit any meaningful discussion re the results of the close scrutiny each application must receive.
For over 30 years I have had a close involvement with most funding agencies both locally and at a national level. I can tell him that they are all envious with the substance and the utterly professional manner in which TECT has been constituted; and continues to operate. I am not aware of any other agency that communicates to, and with, their ‘public' to the same extent as TECT.
While at a meeting in Wellington two weeks ago with other funding providers, including the Charities Commission, they had great difficulty following this notion. They are not aware of a funding agency anywhere that subscribes to Mr Groos's view.

Mike Frohlich, Ohauiti.