LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 32, 27 January 1987, Page 2

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

'Pipiriki Story' Due to your editing of the 'Pipiriki story' published last week, 1 understand the journalist ^as not only been subject to abuse but also accused of biased reporting. Unfortunately, although many people were interviewed, the article was published in a shortened version; it was this that caused people to believe the reporter favoured one aspect of the story. As a small community newspaper, 1 believe that you owe your readers a balanced approach to a story such as this, preferrably with illustrations, so they can be better informed on the issues involved.

Finally, the article failed to mention the crux of the story, viz the town plan for, and management of, Pipiriki as it faces a new era of tourist development. 1 would suggest that if you can not handle a 'sensitive' story with sensitivity, then in fairness to the people involved, you are better to leave it unpublished.

F. M.

Lundy

Pipiriki As a newspaper, the Bulletin does owe its readers a balanced approach to all stories, something we try very hard to do. In the case of the 'Pipiriki story ' in last week 's Bulletin

we were reporting on the criticism of a clean up in Pipiriki, and the petition launched to express that criticism. As such we included comments from Mrs Lundy and other residents. We also included comments from the family carrying out the work, in answer to those criticisms. In this way we endeavoured to present a balanced view of the dispute. The story was not about the management of Pipiriki or a new era in tourist development, nor was it intended to be. The crux of the story was the dispute over the clean-up of a garden. Editor