Letters Friday 5 February 2010
Community food stall at Rototai
In an effort to share locally grown produce I commend Theo, NgAng and Dan. Seeing the residents of the Bay help provide for each other is wonderful.
Many of us don’t grow enough produce or don’t have the right situation to be able to sell from our own home roadside stall, so having a shared one is a real asset to Golden Bay. A big thank you, too, to all the people now supplying the stall.
Rototai is close to town so it’s easy to pop down there. It’s a shame it’s still 70kmph in a residential area, but hopefully soon it will be a more sensible 50kmph. There is nothing to stop us all driving at 50kmph or less right now of course!
One thing that could change is the use of the word “organic”. Stating all the produce is “organic” seems an untruth when certified organic growers have to go to huge effort to get and maintain the right to label their produce “organic”. Surely “home-grown and sprayfree” would be nearer the truth? For “real” certified organic growers, a section of the stall could be labelled as such.
There may be some teething troubles to solve with the set-up of this new venture, but here’s hoping the stall remains a thriving community asset.
Name withheld
Mardi Gras
Commercial Street, Takaka will be closed between the DOC building and BP Service Station/GB Pharmacy between the hours of 4.30pm on Saturday 6 February and 1am on Sunday 7 February for the purpose of the annual Takaka Mardi Gras.
However, Commercial Street is still open so that you may go to the Roots Bar, Junction Hotel, BP Service Station and Take Note Takaka.
Come and enjoy local and visiting performers and be part of the Taniwha Parade at 6pm. A list of performers and approximate times appears in this issue.
Parents, please be aware you are responsible for your teen’s welfare and note that there is still a “no alcohol in public places ban” in effect.
Dave Myall, Mardi Gras organiser
Solar heating system
Congratulations. It’s inspiring to see some long-term thinking from Adriana Morani in choosing quality and performance over the low-cost solar options (GBW 22/1).
But to call it “the most high-tech...home solar-heating system” is misleading as the German-engineered Latento cylinder has superior insulation, better heat-exchange system and hot-water layering. I also believe the Sola Rosa flat panels have similar performance in the summer; in the winter the double glazing of the tubes and the shape of the tubes gives better performance. The shape of the tube increases the suntrekking ability. The experience of the installer can be the biggest factor in its performance.
I believe it is important for articles to be researched not just relying on the suppliers, as in New Zealand we have quite a reputation for making bold statements.
As for plastic windows compared to wooden windows: wooden composite windows have comparable, if not better, thermal performance. It has more to do with glass specs and size than the actual frame.
Little Greenie’s solar underfloor boiler backup stem has a 10-out-of-10 HERS Rating, the highest yet in New Zealand.
Lawrence McIntyre, www.goldenbayhideaway.co.nz
Integrated Health Group
I would like to thank the Integrated Health Group for their answers to key questions (GBW 29/1) from the Open Days, but I find some of the answers wanting, eg:
1. “...no intention to raise funds in the community through sausage sizzles and the like.” Does that mean that the community will not be asked to contribute?
2. On the question of a trust being unable to operate profitably. The question is not answered!
3. On the question of finding out if we actually want it, we get the response “... we will be reporting back to the community...” Reporting back and asking the whole community if it wants it are quite different things. Or are the 62 responses being taken as representing the whole community?
Two very important questions are not answered, and they need to be:
5. Are people, particularly people who have limited mobility, happy to have their medical centre out of town at the hospital site?
6. If the Joan Whiting Rest Home is unable to run profitably, how will a new, more sophisticated unit, needing more money to be borrowed, suddenly become profitable? OK, there will be savings to be made by combining with the hospital, but I wonder whether those savings would be enough to even cover the manager’s salary.
Dick Wenzel
Response from integrated management group:
1: We have already received some offers from members of the community who want to contribute to the facility so the community will have the opportunity if they wish. The comment was meant to convey that the project financials are being designed on an economically sustainable basis through normal funding channels.
2: As we say above, the project will not go ahead unless it can function on a financially sustainable basis – why would we do otherwise?
3: During the past three years the members of IMG have had contact with hundreds of people in the community and continue to actively work with a range of interested groups – including staff, trustees and consumers of each of the facilities, and expert advisers. The responses from the community feedback are very valuable because they represent a qualitative response –many people have views that are not a simple “yes-no”. IMG is very conscious of its duty to consult, which involves listening to what others have to say, considering their responses and then deciding what will be done. Ultimately a decision on the integrated facility will be made by the three contributing organisations, based on the full information they have – including the community’s views.
5: We know not everyone will be happy with whichever site we choose. Ultimately there will have to be a compromise and the operator of the facility will do whatever it can to mitigate any of the difficulties caused by the choice of site.
6: We acknowledge that, for commercial reasons, the community has not seen the financial detail that underpins the business case. The whole premise for integration is based on the ability to achieve efficiencies from integrating services. IMG would not be considering such a proposal unless it made good financial sense.
Go Willow
Following last week’s article about the Go Willow! co-operative. We would like to clarify that Go Willow! coffins are excellent for all burials and cremations not just “natural burials”. Willow is of course a natural material, hence the easy confusion.
Nicola Basham, Hazel Pearson,
Julia Kelsall and Susie Toder
Tata Beach camp
From 7-10 January the Impact Youth Trust had a camp at Tata Beach. We would like to thank all the people who supported us by buying sausages, cakes and items at our garage sales over the last few months.
We had a awesome time away kayaking, scalloping, hiking, beach activities and swimming. Thanks to the help of our sponsors we were able to hire a bach, had great food and a hangi. Twelve of the older youth had the opportunity to go to Nelson to watch live bands for the day which they thoroughly enjoyed. It was great to see youth of all ages interact and get on together throughout the time away. We hope to be able to do another camp like this in the future.
We would also like to thank everyone who supported us at the recent A&P Show. The money we raised will help us on our way to buying a van for youth trips, caravans for temporary youth accommodation and for Parachute Youth concert in Hamilton in 2011.
Impact Youth Trust, Carol Baker, director
