Letters to the Editor
Takaka Memorial Library - housebound service
We are wondering if there is a demand in our community for a housebound service. This would provide for the library needs of those who are physically unable to visit the library themselves - either due to illness, advanced years or home circumstances.
What the service will provide: Library staff will meet and chat with you to find out what kinds of books you would like to read; library items will be selected and then delivered to you; deliveries will be made either by a volunteer or by someone nominated by you; the deliveries can be made every 3 or 6 weeks; items including large print or ordinary print, talking books on tape or CD, music on CD and magazines are available to be borrowed; the service will be free.
If you think this service is for you or you would be keen to assist as a volunteer who delivers the books please contact me on 525 0058 or .
Tish Potter
Takaka Memorial Library, branch librarian
Be a superhero for under 5s
The exciting theme for Plunket's Annual Appeal taking place from 13-19 October is for everyone to Be a Superhero for Under 5s.
The superhero theme is a celebration of childhood, a time when children get to dream, play and explore - a time when anything is possible. If we as a community can give children a great start then we can really shape a positive future for them.
Everyone has something to contribute to the well-being of our children, whether it be time or money or both. Plunket's Annual Appeal gives everybody the opportunity to be a Superhero and to contribute to the continuity of Plunket services in the community. All money collected locally is used for local Plunket services, from advice, playgroups, parent education, Plunket rooms to car seats. Every donation does make a difference. Keep an eye out for our volunteers.
We are out to celebrate our "Superhero Parents" in every possible way. Plunket has been around for 100 years and with your help we can look forward to another great 100 years.
Chantelle Etheredge, Golden Bay Plunket
Community spirit of Rototai
We, Rototai Residents and Friends Inc (RR&F) - everyone in Golden Bay is our friend - are developing our cycle-walkway into an attractive, edible 240-metre garden for all that use it. Twenty-four fruit trees are planned; eleven already planted are blossoming, thanks to Bill Wallis (apples and pear), Debbie at Bay Subtropicals (mandarin), Chris and Silvia (peaches and figs), plus feijoas from us. Both Alaria and I have donated raspberries, strawberries, and flowers. This is just the beginning. We thank Beatrice for two trailer loads of mosaic materials, and Elizabeth for a bench and seats.
More trees and plants are needed, particularly citrus, so if you're working on a spring garden clean-up and find a metre-high fruit tree wanting a better place to be, I'll be happy to carefully transplant it here. Maybe a nut tree or two, as all types use this trail! The fruit, berries and some vegetables will be for all in the community who use the cycle-walkway, and to share with our Rototai guardians, the birds. Greed has no place here -- all are invited to pull a weed and pluck a fruit, sit and relax, contemplate, and converse with the community spirit of Rototai.
NgAng, RR&F Chair
Affordable housing contract process
Great news to see that the Affordable Housing Trust has moved closer to building four new houses in Golden Bay (GBW article 3/10). However, the process of tendering for the project did seem a little biased and unfair in its approach.
It is usual when community grants are made available for a project that expressions of interest are advertised, thereby enabling all interested parties to be given a fair chance to be considered. The article pointed out that "Jennian Homes were able to meet our deadline...with a very competitive price."
What I would like to ask, is how did the trust know it was a competitive price if it was the only one they received? There may have been many others out there who could also have met the deadline had they only been asked.
Liz Clingan
Response from Golden Bay Housing Trust chairperson Belinda Barnes: We too at the Golden Bay Housing Trust (GBHT) were delighted that after considerable time and various disappointments the Canterbury Community Trust (CCT) was able to donate funds towards affordable housing in the Bay.
When it was learnt that the CCT was marking its 20th anniversary, the GBHT was under considerable time pressure to fit in with their decision-making process, as well as the uncertainty as to whether funding would be available beyond the end of the financial year. With support from Housing New Zealand, GBHT employed a contractor to advise us on the application process and had prices from tenders for our unsuccessful application to the Housing Innovation fund as a benchmark for competitive pricing, so a decision was made. As it was mentioned in the article, we do hope to continue with the process and in future be able to build more houses and use other builders in the Bay.
Arthritis support in the Bay
Arthritis New Zealand held its annual Orange Appeal in Takaka on Friday 3 October. The sum raised was $1,000 - awesome and well up on last year. I was thrilled with the generosity of Golden Bay people and the friendliness of many folk who stopped to talk and pass on all sorts of useful local information and advice.
Arthritis New Zealand is running a free clinic in Golden Bay next week on Wednesday 16 October. If anyone would like to talk with our educator Helen Saul about how to manage better with their arthritis, please phone the Heartland Service Centre on 525 6151 for an appointment.
I am also interested in reactivating an arthritis support group that used to meet regularly in the Bay. Does anyone want to help with getting this going again? Phone me or Helen on 0800 663 463. We can support the group with information and attend the group sometimes, but we need local people who want it to happen to make it work.
Susan Ledingham, Arthritis New Zealand
Housing dispute at Rangihaeata
It is dishonest and disgraceful for Mr Cooper's plight to be so deceptively explained away by Mr Bush-King's misleading statements (GBW letters 3/10).
The Close Up report of Mr Cooper's atrocious house was thorough, impartial and complete, but for the fact that Mr Bush-King and the builders declined to be interviewed.
The truth is that there has been no settlement offer of $90,000. However, for 15 years TDC has allowed Mr Cooper, nearly 84, to live in a house it passed but later refused to issue with a Code of Compliance Certificate, a dwelling now deemed to be a leaking, insanitary building, currently rated for $26,000 by TDC for salvage value of removable components.
The Mayor refuses to address the full extent of building failures identified by independent, extensively qualified and experienced building experts. Consequently, on Mr Cooper's behalf, I have applied to the Department of Building and Housing for a legally binding building determination, to which TDC is a party.
I would not have expected Mr Cooper, Mr Bush-King's father, the Mayor's father or any other ratepayer of reasonable mind to accept any of the dubious "offers" I have seen. Your readers can find more truth at www.councilcoverup.co.nz
Jonathan Port
I cannot allow Mr Bush-King's (GBW letters 3/10) attack on my credibility to remain unchallenged. The allegation that I received a $90,000 offer is a gross misrepresentation. My contract with the builders included a warranty that the company would rectify any faulty material or workmanship free of charge. The $90,000 was the estimated cost of repairs for the building.
The work did not proceed, however, because the TDC refused to issue the necessary consents. The TDC may have been influenced in this decision because it was itself one of the building sub-contractors responsible.
The reason for the continuance of this 15-year building fiasco is simple. The TDC has continued throughout to ignore its lawful obligations under the Building Act.
A very disturbing factor has been TDC's engaging "top notch" lawyers from Auckland at huge expense. In my opinion, this wasting of thousands of dollars of ratepayers' money has been disgraceful. All that has been required is a simple Notice to Rectify (fix). This squandering of public money is an affront to Tasman ratepayers who are entitled to expect better use of their money and more accountability from their elected councillors.
More information is available at www.councilcoverup.co.nz
Reg Cooper
Reply from Mayor Richard Kempthorne: There is little I can add to Dennis Bush-King's earlier response. There are many issues involved in this matter. As Mayor I have personally sought to intervene to bring this matter to a conclusion. To date Mr Cooper has chosen to take other courses or action. I remain open to yet further efforts to resolve this issue in a manner that is equitable to both Mr Cooper and all TDC ratepayers.
Reserve Bank
If I understand the economy lesson (GBW letters 26/9) from Ro Piekarski, banks create loan money out of thin air yet charge interest from borrowers. One dollar of their interest payments brings back one hundred dollars from borrowers' interest payments.
Recent events have demonstrated how this easy money has encouraged greed in the credit industry globally. The government (taxpayer) bailout has included conditions on limitations of salary caps these money lenders give themselves. $1,000,000 a year sounds a lot of pay. That income must lead to excessive consumption, pollution and waste.
Let's head for sustainability and local production for local consumption.
Donald McKee
All countries have central banks: the NZ Reserve Bank, the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, Japan, and China are examples that have in common the serious fraud of fractional reserve banking. Central banks with their partners in this fraud, the commercial banks, are immoral ‘bullies' forcing all individuals, governments and transnationals into debt disallowing choice, denying civil liberties, destroying people's lives through poverty, conflict and war, and despoiling the environment through the need for endless economic growth.
People cannot leave this flawed, inherently corrupt banking system to a ‘laidback attitude'. Action to create a just and responsible banking system is imperative. Citizens must not allow banks to continue usury, uncontrolled greed and unnecessary debt.
Excellent factual DVDs on fractional reserve banking and the entire banking debacle are: Money as Debt found on , The Money Masters and Zeitgeist, and the books Healthy Money, Healthy People by Kiwi Deidre Kent and Tom Greco's Money will broaden understanding. Ring 525 8448 to borrow these resources.
I invite bankers, economists, politicians and all interested to learn MORE from sincere inquiry into the debt economy and fractional reserve banking.
Ro Piekarski for MORE (Money to Revitalise the Economy)
Ed. Correspondence on this topic is now closed.
