The short time I have been on the Te Arawa Standing Committee has opened my eyes to the amazing complexity within the Rotorua District Council and led me to understand a few simple truths. So my korero this weekis to briefly give voice to my experiences within council.
For those standing for council, politics can be ruthless, you may feel unappreciated and it is really, really tough.
The mayor and councillors don't know everything. Even though they possess the combined experience of more than 200 years, they do have blind spots and can sometimes only see what they want to see.
The council is quite old in feel and in nature. So many rules, so much red tape. I feel sorry for many new businesses in Rotorua which get ankle tapped by council processes. We could use more youthful voices at the main council table, thinking and deciding on a fresh future for Rotorua. More of the same is part of the reason so many whanau head over to Australia.
There is a judgmental tone that I often sense inside the council chamber. It's like all the decisions are routine, soulless and more concerned with following the process than respecting the people.
So then for me, the upcoming council elections give great reason for hope. I hope to see positive energy on the campaign trail and have had the privilege of knowing and meeting some candidates already - kia kaha koutou. The hope also is that whatever happens, our city keeps growing and opening its heart, focused on supporting compassionate communities and building a city of tolerance, a city of potential realised. I look forward to politics being a collaborative vehicle for change, where we build a new vocabulary of possibilities and replace the swear words with real positive action.
Good luck to all those standing these elections. Kia kaha. Kia maia. Kia manawanui.
