Is this the way we want our council officers to do business – through statute, protocols, rules and regulations and with not one ounce of regard to humanity and compassion. Because I for one think the Waikato Regional Council has badly misread public feeling on the orca rescue debacle. A harbour master answers the call to help rescue the orca tangled in a cray pot. Without help it would surely have died. For his initiative, for answering the call, he is stood down. The council's first response to this man's selflessness is to check whether any regulations were breached or operational procedures not followed during the rescue. The council says it's about health and safety. Nonsense. I say it smacks of a witch hunt – they were looking for a reason to clobber this guy. Why not first publicly celebrate this man's initiative and success – he went above and beyond and an orca is saved. No-one and nothing died Waikato Regional Council. Then perhaps quietly examine procedures so that if a similar situation arises everyone is equipped to cope. The harbourmaster put the orca ahead of his career and his wellbeing perhaps. He got accolades and the respect of people in Whitianga. It's never too late Waikato Regional Council.

S Smith, Otumoetai.