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

© Scoop Media