O'Connor 'cavalier' in comments on Waiho River - West Coast mayor

The Westland District Council is rejecting accusations by West Coast MP and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor that it's been 'cavalier' in casting blame over flooding of the Waiho River. The council says it will fight a regional council proposal to give up on stop banks and allow the river to follow its natural path - even if that means properties on the floodplain will suffer. Mr O'Connor told Morning Report yesterday the Westland district mayor has been playing politics rather than being realistic about the future of the Franz Josef area. The mayor, Bruce Smith, speaks to Susie Ferguson.