‘I’m not involved,’ says Conscious South Canterbury campaign contact

Tuesday, 13 February 2024

The parties behind an advertising campaign questioning the need for an upgrade of Timaru’s Theatre Royal are yet to front, and the only person whose name is connected to the adverts says she’s “not involved”.

Hels Ryan is listed as the contact on the advertising spreads, which appeared in The Timaru Herald and a community newspaper on February 1.

Ryan said she was not the one behind the campaign, which was posted under a “Conscious South Canterbury” logo and included the slogan “aiming for ethical decision making”.

She was just the contact, she said. “I’m not involved.”

The email address provided in the adverts is associated with the Brooklyn Hill Press website, which lists Ryan as a writer, storyteller and strategic communications and engagement specialist, and a former print and broadcast journalist.

Ryan previously worked as a reporter at The Timaru Herald.

As the group’s listed contact, Ryan has been asked to provide responses to a number of questions including who is behind it. To date, those have gone unanswered.

The only message forthcoming from the parties supposedly behind the campaign is that “they will respond in due course”.

Pushed on when that might be, Ryan said: “When they have more to say that will be beneficial.”

Asked what her involvement was and how she came to be named in the adverts, Ryan did not want to answer questions.

Timaru mayor Nigel Bowen said he had received a similar response.

Bowen has called for those behind the group to come forward, saying his door is always open to the group to discuss their issues of concern.

He said the council had sent a letter to the group, via Ryan.

He supplied a copy of that letter, which reads: “It is really valuable to have healthy debate on these issues and the mayor would appreciate the opportunity to hear your groups concerns on this matter.”

A response was received on Friday, he said. It thanked the council for making contact and said: “We will respond in due course.”

The Timaru Herald has contacted a number of residents, including those who have spoken out in the past, to ask whether they are involved.

Those who responded have denied any involvement, while Waimate businessman Gary Rooney is yet to respond.

Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams said his group had not heard of Conscious South Canterbury and was not involved in the matter.

The campaign has prompted much discussion and a constant stream of letters to the editor.

The letters have had mixed reaction, with some calling for the project to go ahead, others wary of the Timaru District Council’s plan to spend $57 million on the upgrade, and many calling for those behind the group to come forward.