Letters 24 July 2009
allshorts 2009
It’s that time again! allshorts short film and music video festival 2009 is calling for submissions. We are in our 4th great year. If you are a New Zealand resident and you’d like to get your 10 minutes-or-less short film or music video on the big screen in front of a wildly enthusiastic audience, then here’s your chance.
allshorts is free to enter and not for profit. Check out our website for details <www.allshorts.org.nz> and to download your entry form. Submissions close on 30 September 2009.
Festival screening will be at The Village Theatre, Takaka, Saturday 26 October 2009 and at The White Room, Lollokiki Gallery, Takaka (date to be announced).
Paddy Brennan, festival organiser
Do you care?
Sometimes our roads around the Bay are like “paved in penguin” some mornings. As we’re cruising the road at night, penguins turn their back to the lights and are hard to spot. Then it’s too late and flit! “What was that dear?” “I dunno, radio’s too loud; possum maybe?” Whatever. We need to believe we’re cosy and safe in the car from predators.
Back up a sec, and the last thing the bird brain thought was “Gotta get the shopping home, oh look, two suns coming, crikey no, it’s the eyes of a monster, don’t wanna see, don’t wa.....”.
The rest is not pretty. They were here before anyone. They’re our penguins now, our korora. Not from Otago but from Golden Bay, and they instinctively choose to still live here among us. We could care more.
There is a proposed project to install more signage between Pohara and Ligar Bay that promotes attention to driving conditions during the penguin nesting season, in particular, driving after dark. The business community can get involved by sponsoring a sign panel or portion - signs cost $800 to make. Penguin people, join me and stick up for the little guy? Call me on 525 6032.
Chris Finlayson
Banana passionfruit
I am writing in response to the letter Golden Bay Weed Busters (GBW 3/7/09). I am disappointed at the intensity of feeling against the presence of banana passionfruit in Western Golden Bay. I have enjoyed this delicious fruit on many occasions and would be very sad to see it eradicated totally.
A number of our imported fruits and flowers have the potential to spread and be a pest so it does behove us to use common sense in the use and control of them.
While I acknowledge that in certain circumstances banana passionfruit has the potential to spread, the area that I know in Western Golden Bay has no evidence of rampant spread in over 60 years. If it was as bad as stated, most of Golden Bay would be overrun by passionfruit vines!
Time and energy would be better spent attempting to eradicate cannabis from the Bay.
Rose Griffith, Christchurch
Anti-smacking referendum
The VoteNO.org.nz website has all the information you need regarding the upcoming anti-smacking referendum including: frequently asked questions, real life stories of how the anti-smacking law has affected NZ families, quotes of interest, summary of the past 4 years of polls, summary of media releases on this issue, how to enrol, background of the referendum, even a cartoons page.
People may also wish to look up the Government website, or log on to the VoteNO.org.nz website, that actually states the section 59 law and see what it says. Any physical action (including lifting up an unwilling child to put them into their room for “time out”) would be not permitted.
I am totally against violence, but totally for child correction!
Dot Marshall
Don’t botox Ligar Bay!
Places like Ligar Bay, with its charm, history and character, played a big part in my (and I’m sure many others’) decision to settle here 25 years ago. I still like the place very much and would hate to see it destroyed without any real need.
It is a unique part of Golden Bay and of far more character and value to the Bay than any extension of that public area could ever be. It’s fashionable these days to hide behind rules and regulations, and unfortunately common sense is at best avoided. Sure there is an agreement, but times have changed, housing is very much needed and money could be spent on more important things.
I suggest a questionnaire to all Golden Bay folk: Who really wants so badly access to this strip of coastal land that they want all houses destroyed and people made homeless? Where is all the additional public coming from to justify an extension of that coastal strip? Is it good for Golden Bay? Would removal of those historic baches really enhance the Golden Bay experience? Isn’t there room for everybody right now and for many years to come? Let’s be sensible! No botox face lift for Ligar Bay! Save Golden Bay’s unique character!
Michael Roehrs
I have to wonder about the arguments to have the Ligar Bay baches removed. To replace them with more mown grass and a few shrubs seems hardly rational. I’ve never seen the area so crowded that there was need for more public space; if this ever comes to pass we will know that we have really failed to care for our corner of the world.
The “baches” I would happily see removed are those on the inland side of the road! This bunch of ugly boxes is an appalling blot on the landscape and they do impinge on my enjoyment of Ligar Bay, whereas the little baches certainly do not.
I did appreciate the background provided by Ann Lewis, but the only real issue I can see is their use of septic tanks and I think they could be required to have a containment system.
There are plenty of things that really need to be done; let’s stick to dealing with them.
Ian Alach
Bird’s Hill warning lights
I read with growing alarm the article “New warning light on Bird’s Hill needs tweaking” (GBW 17/7).
Unless the two recommendations made by Martin Langley are implemented then this “safety feature” could well prove to be a $30,000 death trap. This afternoon I measured the distance between the two signs - 1.1km. If the light is on for just under two minutes then any cyclist will need to do just over 30km per hour to clear the designated stretch of road. While some may be able to do this coming down the hill, I doubt that it can be done from a standing start going up the hill from the Takaka side. Could you please get someone from Transit to reply informing us of the way they calculated the 1 minute 55 sec time?
I believe that the previous situation was far safer because most motorists assumed there could be a cyclist on that stretch and drove accordingly. The lights lull motorists into thinking that if the lights are not on then there are no cyclists on that stretch. Imagine the surprise for a tourist coming upon a backpacker cyclist three minutes into their climb slowly pushing their way up the hill thinking that they are protected by the sign.
Bob Reid
Ed. Transit NZ has not responded.
Boredom Busters
The full OSCAR days were even more fun because they were based at Takaka Primary School. A big warm hall, plenty of outside space and a great playground nearby added so much to our days’ activities.
Archery was extremely popular, so there will be even more sessions in the spring. Thank you to those who brought along their bows for others to share. The mini motocross bike riding attracted large numbers and about eight kids between 7 and 11 years (mainly girls) who had never been on a motorbike before, managed to ride by themselves with the help of volunteer John Eason. His long legs made all the difference in keeping up with learners. Thanks also to Kevin Hebberd who helped prep the bikes and to those who loaned them.
Unfortunately there are no Boredom Buster photos in The GB Weekly as our camera has been misplaced so if anyone who was at Bead Bazaar on the second Tuesday remembers seeing it, please contact me on 525 8876. There are many photos in it that I hadn’t had the chance to download.
Dave Myall, Boredom Buster/OSCAR organiser
