Democracy comes at a price. Mark Groos instigated spending $100,000 on a referendum [0.002% of TECT'S 2010 operating income] and I for one would like to thank him for giving the community a say. What irks me is that the recipients of TECT's generosity were prepared to spend thousands of dollars advertising to sway peoples opinions in the TECT referendum, whilst the opposition spent nothing.
An unbalanced referendum I would have thought.
It is obvious G Purches and his friends at Council are threatened by Mr Groos. They raised the issue of him attendance of the Russell funds conference in the past.
As TECT had a $10 million Russell Fund investment, thank goodness Mr Groos attended the conference. His subsequent analysis, and advice to sell the poorly performing Russell Funds investment shows he wasn't swayed by a weekend in Melbourne, which is more than we can say for the other TECT Trustees, and the board and CEO of the Bay Trust.
Mr. Groos has done a good job with TECT and I'm sure that he would do a great job in council.
My advice to G Purches is instead of spreading fact-less vitriol, try coming up with solutions to Tauranga's problems.
Chris Laycock, Otumoetai.