Opportunity hijacked, boat being missed

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

Yesterday’s front page indicates Gisborne District Council and its supporting in-groups have well and truly “missed the boat” with this year’s Cook sestercentennial.

Those of us who who have been critical of many aspects of this event would seem to have been vindicated.

That is no satisfaction at all, as even the critics hoped Gisborne could capitalise on the opportunity.

It smacks of extremely poor planning — planning which should have started far earlier, and which should have involved the public far more.

Instead, the opportunity was hijacked by sectional in-groups, despite the protests of those who had valuable insights to offer. From the beginning, self-appointed groups took important decisions behind closed doors, without wide public involvement, with the event taking on a direction and tone that has dismayed many.

As a classic illustration of how things have deteriorated, the replacement of the Endeavour models has met with an ongoing unhelpful attitude from the council, the cost has at least doubled, and there is no sign of any real desire to get them back up.

As for the sestercentennial projects proper, there has been no widespread acceptance that these are even necessary, let alone of an appropriate nature.

Look at how much time it has taken?to get the Gladstone Road bridge ?footpath widened — and the arguments that have ensued.

Money well spent? Essential and valuable infrastructure? I hardly think so.

I was hoping for something worthy of the anniversary — but all we have ended up with is stirring up historical bitterness, various vainglorious projects which are still “on the books” and an event that is shaping up to be a monumental failure.

Government is also guilty of listening to sectional interests, and has failed to give firm guidance, along with the promised funding.

It’s a disgrace and all those involved should be ashamed that it has come to this, a bare eight months out.

Roger Handford