I am writing to explain a misquote attributed to me in a local publication re leadership in Katikati.
I have lived in Katikati all my life (Fifth generation) and love the place.
My role in all sorts of organisations has shown me what a terrific place it is for volunteers and community spirit and people contributing time and effort in their particular field of expertise.
I referred to the recent Te Puke example where a dynamic and skilled leader with good people behind him had pulled many diverse groups together, which has given them even greater strength and impetus than they had as individual groups, with amazing results.
The world economy, the huge PSA effect, and rate rises are impacting heavily on our people (including me) and we need to find innovative ways to increase our economic drivers and options, without touching ratepayers pockets any further.
Our council contributes thousands of dollars to organisations to promote economic planning and growth.
I have often complained that well over one third of our council's population, and an even greater percent of rates lay west of the Omokoroa turnoff, in Katikati and Waihi Beach, but in my opinion our area gets a very minimal benefit from this money and this has to change.
But if we could get a dynamic leader, such as Te Puke has got, with the appropriate skills and a small group of local people behind him and win back our fair share of the currently available funds, we could see real progress here.
The options for progress are too numerous to list here. Think on it!

Norm Mayo, Katikati Ward Councillor, WBOPDC.