Democracy may not be perfect, but it's still the best thing we have. For this reason the Commissioners appointed by former Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta to oversee Tauranga City Council was a huge retrograde step.

Previously, the brilliant Papamoa Ratepayers Association monthly meetings gave us the opportunity to hear from councillors Steve Morris and Leanne Brown of the various works the council was undertaking and the challenges and priorities that existed.

We felt part of the process of Local Government. Now we – or I – feel that our council Commissioners are quite remote from us. Largely, as we very rarely see them, Local Government is now conducted in the council offices and good old fashioned ‘face to face' communication that councillors had with ratepayers' groups has been replaced by email announcements or snippets from the Commissioner's in The Sun newspaper. Probably they are comfortable with this and in making far-reaching decisions about our city without involving the public at large to any worthwhile extent, but you cannot beat councillors you can talk to, question and hold accountable.

Yes, I know the reason that led to this was a fractured relationship between the Mayor and councillors, but the medicine inflicted upon us by government has been far worse than the original illness.

David Hallett, Mount Maunganui.