As the lead petitioner in the recent Western Bay of Plenty District Council petition against the council's decision to have separate Maori wards I would also like to add my voice to the growing number who are calling for the Mayor and councillors who voted for separatism in our council to do the honourable thing.

By the actions prior to and after the referendum that you have taken you have shown a complete and utter disregard for the ratepayers of the Western Bay of Plenty and I call upon you all to be prepared to stand by what you believe in and fall on your swords like men.

My father and thousands of others like him risked their lives fighting for democracy and one man, one vote and it will be interesting to see if any of the current councillors are prepared to show the same courage and intestinal fortitude that these men did.

R McNair, Te Puke.