Chao-Fu with Chairman of Asian Anti-Crime Group Peter Low
As Prime Minister John Key enjoyed the hospitality at the Pakuranga Country Club yesterday, Labour Candidate for Botany Chao-Fu Wu joined hordes of locals who displayed their strong opposition to Thurston Place College through a picket demonstration.
The community is outraged that proper consultation has not taken place and that plans to build Thurston Place College continued despite the strong community opposition to the development.
Chao-Fu Wu proved to be a people’s candidate yesterday. He was on the front-lines representing the community and joining with them as they tried their best to make John Key understand their concerns.
The community have spoken loud and clear that they believe in a fair and transparent consultation process, yet this isn’t happening. Education Minister Anne Tolley has failed to give an assurance that consultation will be carried out independent to the Ministry of Education.
Chao Fu-Wu told me that while joining locals in the picket line, they told him that their basic democratic rights as citizens have been ignored:
When you put up a fence, you consult your neighbours; that’s basic common-sense and respect. The local resident’s deserve that same respect and have their concerns recognised.
The picket display on Thursday night was a good demonstration of the overwhelming opposition and concern from local residents. The government should not ignore these strong messages from the community.
