Last night I attended the inauguration of the mayor, 10 new councillors and the Community Board members. It was a great evening with a couple of surprises.

Mayor Rowan had the numbers for her deputy, Roger Booth, but the 'One Kapiti' councillors had to have a show of strength and moved that Ross Church be elected to the role. This seemed to me to be a petulant two fingers from a minority group within council, all newcomers except Peter Ellis.

As a former Deputy, I know you need some experience to do the job. I hope this petty show of anti jenny sentiment is not an omen for the future. Good on Gurunathan the only newcomer who did not swing with 'One Kapiti'. On the face of last night, this new council may not be 'One kapiti', but a divided Kapiti!

It was always a stupid name as it denies the diversity of human nature, the communities we live in, the political spectrum, our ethnicity and the different ways we choose to live our lives.

The second suprise was he losing Otaki ward councillor candidate, Andre Baker, who took a place on the Otaki Community Board, (as there was no election), decided to quit before he took oath! What does that say?