Letters to Editor 28 November
Village Theatre increases ticket prices
It is after much soul searching that The Village Theatre will be increasing ticket prices from 1 December. We realise that recessionary times can be hard for our patrons; it is the same for us. Since 2003 the average ticket price has increased less than 7%, whilst inflation (and the increase in our costs) has been around 17%. We will continue to hold down the ticket price for high school students, and to offer cheap admission for caregivers on Friday afternoons. The new prices will be $12 full, $9.50 concession, $6.50 children and high school students. We hope you will continue to enjoy our programme.
Sarah Kay, Village Theatre manager
The Maori Party
I was very surprised to see that nobody, apart from BJ (GBW Letters 21/11), answered the letter from Mark Phillips (GBW Letters 7/11) regarding the Maori Party. I understand that some people still don't understand the reason for a Maori Party. There are many forms of racism. One is the obvious " I am white so I am better"; another one is "Let's all be friends now, we are all equals now, let's forget about the past". Unfortunately, it is not for the white people to say so.
Having a Maori Party is not about "separatists". It is about recognising what has been ignored for a very long time, about being proud to belong to a race, not necessarily to go against another.
I also find it inconsistent to talk about compassion in the same letter where death penalty is being contemplated, however that is not the issue now. The so called "low-life", dear Mark, is a direct result of racism.
Giuliana Morani
Shakespearean production
Congratulations to Ronnie Short and her Teentheatre actors. I enjoyed the Shakespearean night they gave us. Their enthusiasm, energy, humour and creativity combined to produce very good theatre. In particular I'd like to commend Tui Kraal for her lively and humorous portrayal of MMMbeth. I won't forget that accent in a hurry. I look forward to the next production.
Moira Tilling
Heavy rains - big floods
In Golden Bay rain and floods are part of our environment. Weather forecasting and predictions are only guidelines. We know Mother Nature can and will take her own course of action. What if there were big slips into the rivers bringing clay spoil, trees and debris with a mighty flood changing water flow courses for that floods. The rains come down and the floods come up, but how high? The 1983 flood is only a marker of what can happen.
Do we really want the Takaka township sitting on the valley floor floodplain in a 100 years' time, if we can quietly plan for an alternative better option? We need to give Cr Stuart Borlase room to do the job we elected him to do: representing us and negotiating for the best he can do for Golden Bay.
We assume it will stop raining and the flood waters will stop rising, but what if they don't?
As humans we like to blame somebody else but that does not make disasters that could have been avoided better. Tomorrow will only be a better day for us all, if we all work together to try to achieve it.
Gerald Langford
The Nelson region has just received a large amount of rain and although the top of Takaka township had minor flooding, other areas in the Nelson province had considerably more damage. This makes a nonsense out of TDC's restriction on building on the Takaka floodplain.
Now they have saved $4 million on their gold-plated fire scheme to save a house it's time they put a few dollars into a proper embankment to save the town. Come on TDC, wake up and get your priorities right.
Tony Sandall
The flood in Takaka township on Monday was interesting in that many people's theories and ideas were put to the test. The stopbank was effective until the water went around the northern end of it, allowing water to flow into the commercial area, although it didn't seem to go past Reilly Street. The northern end of town was at risk for a short period around high tide. At peak levels the two main areas affected by the "Variation 57" were unaffected by any flooding.
The proposed medical centre site [near the high school] was unaffected. If the proposed medical centre was built at Central Takaka, with this scenario, no one from Takaka township would have been able to get to it. If built near the school anyone from the township could have driven to it if they needed attention.
I would be interested to know the comparison between the total rainfall in the catchment area on Monday and the flood in 1983, if anyone knows how to get hold of that information.
Dave Gowland
Thank you
I would like to acknowledge the article that Neil Wilson wrote about Papi in last week's copy of The GB Weekly (GBW 21/11), to thank him for allowing her "voice" to shine through and her story of achievement to become known to her wider community.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank this wider community, our community, Central Takaka School and GB High School, Community Support Services, our East Takaka community, our dear family, friends and acquaintances, for all the kindnesses, the support, the small and large mercies shown to us over the years. In so many ways you are all part of this story; our village has indeed helped to raise this child and we can be proud of her, so very proud. With gratitude,
Chris Campbell
Concern for the RDA horses
I find it amazing that despite all the available knowledge these days from internet, courses available, coaches and countless books on the subject, vets are still prescribing locking horses up in small confined spaces with no hay or exercise as a good preventative measure against foundering (GBW Letters 21/11).
There are countless other options that are less cruel, that do not ignore the basic code of welfare for horses as set out by MAF, that do not lead to digestive problems, mental depression and a loss of basic natural living conditions for horses. These include: grazing muzzles (so the horse is still allowed to exercise and move around), the track system, and let's not forget the obvious choice - hay. It is not the amount of grass that causes foundering, but rather the type and quality of the grass. Common sense should also prevail; the best course of action for overweight horses is exercise, not starvation.
No one likes to be reported to the authorities. So it is no surprise that there are some bitter feelings. But on the upside - at least some changes have been made. The horses are now receiving hay hopefully daily and their grazing space has increased fourfold.
Pam Schinkel
Racism
I appreciate BJ White's wish for love and peace in Aotearoa for all (GBW Letters 21/11). I really do appreciate that BJ's letter comes from a genuine wish for love and peace for all.
However, the letter is loaded with racism, and racism never brought peace anywhere. There are no advantages in any accusations made against the history of Maori people. It only makes it worse. We tend to forget that years ago being Maori was not a happy prospect. They were not allowed to speak their own language, they were judged as lazy, alcoholics, trouble-making, squalid, dirty, clumsy savages, eating funny foods, inferior. Many Maori have been made to feel ashamed of their own family and culture because of white colonisation. How would you like that to happen now - someone moving in and saying no more Kiwis, no more English, you are inferior? It is not for the whites to say "Let's move on, it's in the past". It's for the Maori to do so when and if they please. All we can say is, sorry, so sorry my people did this to your people and I commit to heal the hurts - whatever it takes until you trust me again.
Giuliana Morani
Kindness of a stranger
Two weeks ago, I came out of Fresh Choice supermarket with a full trolley, toddler and restless baby in my arms. I hesitated at the start of the ramp down to the car park. A lady stopped and asked if she could help me by taking my trolley, along with hers, down to the car park. Furthermore she took the trolley all the way to my car, helped my toddler get out of it and took it to the trolley bay - all while I was putting the baby into her car seat. I was touched that a complete stranger showed so much compassion and kindess in her busy day and I would like to say ‘thank you - whoever you are'.
Natasha Le Grange
