In her weekly column in the Kapiti News of 19 August, the current holder of the Kapiti seat on the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Penny Gaylor, chose to add her dagger attack on Waikanae Watch co-editor Geoffrey to that of Cr Prvanov:
“My support [for Prvanov’s motion] was based on my experience that as an elected community representative I too was the target of published content on his website. I applaud and appreciate those that have stood up against the abuse.”
Firstly, Councillor, this website does not tolerate abuse and that is made clear in the ‘About’ page. Criticism is another matter.
Secondly, why did you say nothing about the actual abuse by Cr Prvanov’s predecessor e-mailed to a ratepayer in 2016?
You don’t mention in your column your relentless denigration of Cr Rob McCann to anyone who cares to listen because he called you out over your hypocrisy. You don’t mention your being expelled from the Labour Party.
You also don’t mention that complaints about your behaviour made by readers of our online magazine go back some 5 years. Here is a typical example:
Basically, if people don’t do anything to justify criticism they will not be criticised; but in our view you are one of those who have deserved it.
On the other hand, we also like to praise those who deserve praise. Usually in both cases it has to do with issues: thoughtful analysis, insight and recognition of all implications that are given to them — or the lack of it.
We have no time for politicians who are only out to advance their own interests — ego trippers, pretenders and narcissists who betray the trust of those who elected them.
Lastly, congratulations of sorts are due for actually attending a Community Board meeting for the first time since you were elected in 2016 in contrast to your predecessor Nigel Wilson, who regularly attended them and still does.
I will just say (and it is not original) if these precious would-be politicians can’t stand the heat they had best get out of the kitchen.
Rob McMillan – so you support abuse? As a woman politician elected to do a job alongside my colleagues and then be subjected to public abuse of a sexually offensive nature by the editor of WW, we have every right to be angry, seek redress and demand a public apology. In 2020 abuse and bullying are not acceptable in our workplace, in any workplace. In NZ all workers have rights to protection under the Health and Safety at Work legislation and you had best just get used to it.
One more time, councillor Elliott — this website does not tolerate abuse. You seem to equate criticism with abuse; they are not the same thing.
Satire such as the very shortlived piece written by a contributor and edited by Roger Childs, which Cr Prvanov quite unjustifiably and viciously attacked Geoffrey over, is different again. Roger Childs has no time for sexism, he’s made that clear in other articles.
You yourself were the target of bullying by Penny Gaylor and Janet Holborrow during the Ross Church mayoralty — why you should now side with them is beyond us.
We quite agree that workplace bullying is a big problem in general, not only at KCDC. I myself was subjected to it at ANZ in the 1990s.
The present mayor of Kapiti sets out to belittle and denigrate opponents, and make unsubtantiated or simply untue allegations against them. Geoffrey said as much in his article of 1 August, yet bizarrely Cr Prvanov included that in her notice of motion.
“Let they without sin cast the first stone”.
A councillor or MP is fundamentally a public servant, answerable to the public. They are not our masters or leaders. The PM is not our leader but the most senior public servant in NZ. Democracy is at stake here!