Kapiti Councillor Backs Santa(s) in Row with Mayor
KCDC Councillor Lyndy McIntyre has slated Mayor Jenny Rowan for acting alone in ejecting a group of Father Christmases
from the Council Chamber.
Cr McIntyre told Kapiti Independent News the Santas were led by “ a guy who wanted to come along to public speaking.”
“He wanted to speak on a matter of public concern,” she says, “and he was denied the chance. It’s a freedom of speech
issue”
The leader of the group of Santas, Dale Evans, who is also vice chair of the Paraparaumu Community Board, brought
Christmas gifts for the Council -- bottles of water labeled “Swamp Water” to highlight concerns about the quality of
Kapiti’s bore supply.
But he and his group were ejected before he got a chance to use public speaking time.
Cr McIntyre also criticized the Mayor for taking unilateral action without putting the matter to a democratic vote.
“Had we had a discussion, I would have voiced whole-hearted opposition (to ejecting the Santas) and I believe some other
councillors would have too,” she says.
And on the Yuletide theme chosen by the protesters, Cr McIntyre says:” Oh look, it’s Christmas.”
“We had a group who used street theatre to liven things up in the spirit of Christmas.”
She says: “What transpired was a complete over-reaction.”
ends