Bay of Plenty ratepayers the losers

I could not believe what I read on Stuff:

Bay of Plenty ratepayers face “very extensive costs” with Whakatane District Council continuing legal action to prevent the regional council relocating headquarters to Tauranga, Environment Bay of Plenty chairman John Cronin says.

The Whakatane council has said it would appeal last month’s High Court judicial review finding that Environment Bay of Plenty followed correct procedure in deciding to shift from Whakatane to Tauranga.

This is insane. You have Whakatane ratepayers funding court action agaunst the Regional Council, funded by all BOP ratepayers.

The Regional Council is going to have its HQ where it sees fit. Even if the process had been wrong (and the court said it wasn’t), they will eventually be able to move. The only winner will be the lawyers.

Rodney Hide should tell the Whakatane District Council to drop its lawsuit, or face replacing with a Commissioner. The purpose of TLAs is not to sue employers who decide to move to other towns.