Readers: Sandcastle trip 'media beat-up'

Photos / Northern Advocate, Simon Winter

Christchurch city councillor Gail Sheriff says she won't stand at the upcoming election after receiving abusive phone calls for going on a $4000 ratepayer-funded trip to study sandcastles in the United States.

We asked readers if they thought the trip was appropriate for a city councillor - and found many were supportive of Ms Sheriff.

"Maybe we shouldn't judge her too harshly," Harry L said on nzherald.co.nz. If she can go down to the beach and construct an impossibly awesome sandcastle that draws in tourists from around the world, then her critics would look very foolish indeed."

Adam said: "She said herself it was to research how best to organise an upcoming Christchurch event, let's be realistic here - it is only $4k after all, you can bet she didn't travel first class and didn't stay in a expensive suite watching pay-per-view movies and raiding the minibar. Shame on the people that called her home and hurled abuse, what sort of low-lifes would do such a thing."

Peter C said he didn't have any problem with the trip - "it's only $4,000 after all."

Grant reckoned "the Councillor has nothing to be ashamed of. The one thing Christchurch does very well is tourism - there is always something going on and I am more than confident the 4k spent would be recouped if the event gets off the ground."

"Good on her for building a competition that will have and generate interest from the community," said Bernhard. "4K for a trip to the US and back has gotta be one of the cheapest trips to the US possible. Maybe others in Christchurch would prefer she learnt how to do donuts in the carpark instead?"

Neil said: "I can't believe media is raising such a fuss over just 4K, after all it is from a discretionary fund, and it was taken for something which could benefit the council."

Mike's view was: "Funny isn't it? You read the headline and think "WHAT!?" And then you read the whole story and it was actually an investment in a community project that could bring in a substantial amount of money, and realise it was just another media beat-up."

But others weren't so forgiving. Bill Wilson said: "If the councillor wanted to see sandcastles built, she could have came to my house and played with my daughter in her sandpit and then 'donated' the 4K to her day care centre."

Ted Filter didn't think the trip was appropriate either. "Her attempted justification is laughable. How difficult is it to organise a sandcastle competition?" he asked.

"She should be absolutely embarrassed with this trip," said Thomas Bredman. "The only good thing she has done is not to run next year."

Neps asked: "Is she really implying that NZ doesn't have talented enough people to organise and conduct a sandcastle building competition? Couldn't she have just written to the US organisers and sought advice? Yes it's "only" four grand but it's four grand of someone else's money."

"Typical of the current council signing off on crazy expenditure," said Mars. "I'm surprised that a monorail hasnt been suggested and approved.

- NZ Herald staff