Re: ‘Democracy really has departed Tauranga' (The Wekeend Sun, April 1).

M Baker's letter was a real eye-opener; if his assertion that a former Mayor was barred from attending the event organised for Minister Mahuta to announce her decision to cancel Tauranga's local elections is correct, then we can presume that this exclusion was due to the said former Mayor's public stand in support of democracy.

M Baker's letter seems to vindicate the position of Steve Morris in his column in the March 25 edition and highlights the huge gap between those who believe in democracy and inclusiveness, and those, including Tommy Kapai Wilson (in his letter in April 1), who support the autocratic actions of a supercilious Labour government. The image of representatives of vested interests attending an invitation-only event proclaiming the suspension of Tauranga's democracy while excluding the proponents of democracy is an ugly one.

R Rimmer, Welcome Bay.