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A Hokianga kaumātua says people should return home to have a reasoned discussion about a proposed cellphone tower rather than battle it out on Facebook.
A hui will be held tomorrow at Mokonui Marae to discuss the tower on Whakarongorua overlooking the Utakura valley, which is being funded under the government's Mobile Black Spots Fund.
Rudy Taylor say it has been identified the best site for network coverage, and it's a service which could save lives and increase the economic viability of the communities.
But he says the opposition is getting heated, with protesters blocking the access road and a kaumātua blessing the site being sworn at.
"When you go back to your haukainga and hear what is going on with our people at home – jobs, people not staying around because there is nothing for them at home – we should be building up there and I think this Government is building up the regions to make sure there are connections to do something for home and come back home, not just to come back and protest and go away, and then they look for another protest around the place," Mr Taylor says.
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