The Democratic process is something countries like New Zealand treasures so it is therefore most disappointing when it is proven that the Tauranga City Council has made a mistake that directly impacts on this process.
Firstly the Council changes the rules around signs on vehicles and whilst welcome, making or changing rules on the hoof is not good governance as the work should have been undertaken by the councillors when they collectively decided to change the election sign rules, after the last election.
Then worse still, the latest revelation is that the candidate's book is incorrect and the ability to advertise on private land should have been permitted to commence from the 1st September and not the reported 14th September.
And further to this the like minded people that I am standing with tried to lease a billboard at Baypark and although we had a signed a contract, at a very late stage, we were informed that we could not advertise at that venue as it is owned by ratepayers. This resulted in the city missing out on over $2,000 of rental income and under the circumstances this seems to defy logic. I think, time for some changes.

Mike Baker, Bethlehem.