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The councillor failed to stand up for himself and his constituents in the face of bullying. He did a bad job. Best his constituents let him know they expect better.

WE decide what is acceptable. Not them. Stop painting yourself so determinedly as a victim.

Our opponents are crazy, but they're successful because they don't wait for permission to speak. They presume the moral authority of their views and don't accept being told otherwise.

There is no substitute for confidence.

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On the contrary, the Councillor did what he could in the confines of the meeting, and alone. Having it on record and showing it to people was a logical next step. So good that it got more people voicing their concerns, and yesterday afternoon the Rotorua Council announced it's cancellation of this event. Of course, the mainstream media puts their spin on it, however it was a powerful example of the power of the people, and the influence that one lone voice can have in a one-sided committee, when done diplomatically.

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It was going to be on record regardless, that's beside the point.

He didn't "do what he could", he allowed himself to be bullied into not finishing his statement. He responded to his bully by backing down, not asserting himself, and asking if he was going to be "allowed" to speak.

Weirdly enough, the councillors who bullied him didn't ask anyone's permission to speak, they just spoke! See how that works?

What we witnessed was classic verbal bullying.

His constituents need a councillor who can successfully assert himself when dealing with other assertive councillors.

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