From a recent Hui with community leaders, the daily newspaper reporter Carmen Hall reported on July 16, 2022, that Tauranga Business Chamber Chief Executive Matt Cowley stated: 'It was not necessarily a bad thing if some businesses folded as some people were not set up to run businesses”.

'On balance, it is probably a positive thing for the economy.”

Have I misunderstood this statement by the present chief executive of the Tauranga Business Chamber?

Mr Cowley declares in his profile: 'Business growth and confidence is critical to the Tauranga and Western BOP economic future. That he is passionate about growing the chamber's contribution in the area”.

This is a person who put his name forward as a contender for the recent by-election and is referred to as a community leader. Mr Cowley's comments are unproductive and insulting to genuine, hardworking citizens. I suggest Mr Cowley should make a public apology for his statements on July 16, 2022, and secondly, resign from his role as the chief executive of the Tauranga Business Chamber.

Ray Stevenson, Avenues.

***Matt Cowley replies:

Thanks for the opportunity to provide more context to the few comments that made it into the article. These comments were part of a much wider conversation, however the key point being made here is that some consolidation within certain industries is not necessarily a bad thing. Too much competition, and not enough resources, puts heavy strain on entire sectors. The construction industry is a prime example of an ultra-competitive sector, desperately vying for staff and materials, which may benefit as a whole from a little consolidation. Please reach out if anyone would like to chat in person.