Observations were factual

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

In final response to that busy bunch of critics, Lara and the Meyerites, I have this to say.

My observations on science and matauranga Maori were based on a lifetime of reading, study and journalistic practice, and talking to many people.

They were factually correct and not based on hearsay, AND they were intended to be moderate and inoffensive.

Being called out by Ms Meyer prompted my response.

It will be pointless to suggest you read my original letter again, with somewhat more care, so I will simply say:

I do not wish to enter into a personal battle of tit-for-tat verbiage.

To those who were upset by my reference to OCD, there was no intent to offend. But if you scroll through various, and many, comments on the opinion webpage, you will see that some people do appear to have an obsession with firing back at all and sundry, on almost any and every little thing.

The tone and message of some comments is, in my view, unhealthy and unwarranted.

Roger Handford