Letters 17 September 2010
Dear Golden Bay
I would like to say a huge thank you to the people of Golden Bay and the sponsors, organisers and contestants of Miss Golden Bay 2010. What a show!
A special thank you needs to go to Jenny at Hair Revolution for the amazing way she enhanced and celebrated my beauty. Also to Billy Kerrisk at Ray White for the very generous prize she donated for the winner - me!
Sending wishes of love and world peace to you all.
Your very own Miss Golden Bay (Cory Griffiths)
Local body elections
I would like to thank the lovely Rural Women of Pakawau for arranging the “Meet the Candidates” public gathering in Collingwood last Sunday.
This meeting enabled me to ask our current Mayor Richard Kempthorne, the sole Golden Bay Mayoral candidate Victoria Davis, and Ted O’Regan whether they would support the TDC being more transparent, open and honest within its published accounts by showing us where the TDC is spending our money, not merely the category of activity that it is spending our money on?
Mr Kempthorne said “No”. Our current Tasman District Mayor has said in open public forum that he is opposed to greater public visibility in the matter of the TDC’s accounts, when it comes to us knowing where they are spending our money. Victoria Davis said “Yes”, she would urge maximum public visibility. Ted O’Regan said a great deal and, I think, “Yes and No”.
As Mayor Kempthorne is the only one who has done the Mayor’s job, so knows the real world of being Mayor. Is there something we are not being told – as well as “them” telling “us” they have no intention of telling us where they are spending our money? I think we should be told.
Bruce Collings
“Meet the Candidates” never disappoints. In Collingwood, to a full hall, candidate Sangster announced that the reticulated water scheme for firefighting in Takaka was to no benefit. Why? Because if The Village Theatre or The Wholemeal Café burnt to the ground then Takaka gets rebuilt on the insurance, with the short-term inconvenience of going without a coffee or buying flowers at the garden shop. To make his point, he reminded everyone of the fire that resulted in the new Hebberd’s Motorcycles property.
Afterwards, Mr Sangster told me it was a waste of money to install water for fire-fighting as it might not be used in the next 20 years. Presumably, he would advise that people simply invest in replacement cost insurance. Forget emergency services. When you need 111 Fire tell the brigade, “Don’t save it, I want a new building” and instead of calling 111 Ambulance tell St John “Don’t come, I’ve got life insurance.”
Sara Chapman
Unfortunately CEO of councils aren’t accountable through the ballot box as mayors and councillors are. Mr Kempthorne stated at the “Meet the Candidates” in Takaka, that it was council’s job to set policy and to make sure that the CEO carried out the policy. In this case Mr Kempthorne doesn’t practise what he preaches or follow resolutions set out by council, which has resulted in a complaint and investigation by the ombudsmen.
In respect to the advertisement by Mr Borlase The GB Weekly (10/9) he talks all about his so-called achievements. This was the man who promoted variation 57 to withdraw all residential zoning from the Takaka township. It was only through a determined group appealing to the Environment Court and winning that this was withdrawn. He was in favour of altering the band rotunda at Pohara when the walkway would have been narrower beside some rocks which were not going to be touched.
I urge ratepayers to think about who they are going to vote for in the upcoming elections. I will not be supporting either of these two people.
Harry Holmwood, concerned ratepayer of Golden Bay, Richmond, Lakes Murchison Wards
Thanks to Grey Power sponsorship, the GB community had a face-to-face opportunity to listen to the mayoral and councillor candidates standing for TDC. It was clear that the three mayoral candidates were distinctly different in manner, knowledge and governing abilities. This letter will reflect on Victoria Davis, the Golden Bay candidate for mayor.
Victoria stood out brilliantly. Her friendly conversational tone and warm, engaging smile communicated openness. Victoria spoke clearly, her comments well informed from her experience with political, social, economic and environmental issues through many successful years of competent, effective community action. She shared an inclusive vision demonstrating her ability to understand the needs of the entire district. Victoria showed confidence suggesting her leadership of TDC would be fair but firm.
She was full of practical, sustainable ideas with benefits for everyone in the district and smart solutions for global and national issues that affect us locally. A waste reduction campaign, a creative website to boost all-year tourism and a cycle trail over inland Abel Tasman National Park were some of her doable suggestions for revenue generation.
Victoria supports the needs to delegate authority for community boards, halt rates hikes and borrow wisely without burgeoning intergenerational council debt.
Ro Piekarski
As I am in the running for councillor with TDC and you will be very shortly getting your voting papers in the mail, I would like to offer to come and talk to your group or your staff in the workplace. You can ask me questions and let me know what it is that interests or concerns you about your life in Golden Bay and the Tasman District. It’s a chance for you to get to know me better and decide whether or not you would be happy for me to represent you ‘over the Hill’. Doesn’t have to be a long-winded affair – I can come for smoko or speak at your meeting. Contact me on 525 8656 or 027 233 4712 or email martine.goldenbay@xtra.co.nz
Martine Bouillir, TDC candidate
Golden Bay representatives had criticisms heaped on them during recent “Meet the Candidates” by a failed 2004 and 2007 candidate which do not stand scrutiny.
It is right for our community to recognise the Takaka flood risk. We must take steps to avoid, remedy or mitigate this. We did so with the Takaka library floor height. It is not right to promote half-baked schemes which can make the risk worse for some people.
Secondly, it was right to question how Tarakohe had racked up a $3.1m debt with no records to justify that or any other figure. It was interesting to hear the candidate claim Tarakohe as “his”. Real improvements to the port’s management have happened in the past six years including extending the inner arm to design length, improved security and the boat compound.
Thirdly, there was criticism about “not getting on”. It is the fondest wish of all to “get on”. It would be easy to do this if one forgot about their oath of office “to do one’s best”. Elected representatives must be able to represent and question.
If “change” is desired, there are capable new candidates standing without having to hark back to the past.
Joe Bell
Forest and Bird
Participants in Forest and Bird’s walk to Harwoods’ property on Sunday 19 September please note that the time to meet at the Information Centre is 10.30am, not 10am as reported in last week’s GB Weekly. Participants must pre-book with Jenny ph 525 7900, in case of postponement.
Jenny Treloar
Pakawau Hall 75th anniversary
On 16 October we are holding a function to celebrate Pakawau Hall’s 75th anniversary. If anyone has photos from functions held in the hall we would love to borrow them. Please contact Joy 524 8241 or Edna 524 8197 with or for information. Thank you.
Joy Warren
Democratic School in Golden Bay?
Verena Guner, co-founder of Mountain Valley School, was here a few weeks ago to give a presentation about Democratic Schooling, having just returned from the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) in Israel.
Unfortunately only five people showed up to hear her speak. However the five of us were totally inspired by what she had to share. So much so, that we felt the community of Golden Bay had to hear about this wonderful form of schooling. Verena has agreed to come back on Saturday 18 September at 2pm at the Community Centre and speak again.
I would urge all those with children to come and find out more. I have already spoken to many people who are very excited by the prospect of being able to start such a school in Golden Bay. I personally believe that many of the issues we see in society today could be solved by a change in schooling and a move to the Democratic format. We would certainly produce more social, confident and creative human beings as a result. I also believe that the community of Golden Bay is perfectly suited to such a project.
Pew Singh
Quake-breaks: Can You Help?
The Golden Bay Community Board wants to help those affected by Canterbury earthquake. If you can offer free or discounted accommodation, either commercial or bach, email your offer to: quakebreaks@nelsonmail.co.nz.
Include contact name, phone number and email address, the sort of accommodation that is available and price if there one. Also the amount of discount off the normal rate.
Offers need to be in by 4pm on Thursday 24 September. The Press in Christchurch will print your offer on Saturday 25 September for free.
For more information contact Fiona Newey 027 2322213.
Joan Whiting Rest Home closure
I am sorry to be so very angry at Nelson Marlborough District Health Board secretary Mike Cummins for his comments to The GB Weekly (article 10/9) because it is bad for my blood pressure.
I refute the fact that “The DHB and the Hospitals Charitable Trust have already put nearly $400,000 extra funding into maintaining the Joan Whiting Rest Home and the work on integration project since October 2008” (sic). Balderdash.
By my calculations, NMDHB has put way more than $400,000 alone into investigating and advertising how to integrate the medical systems in Golden Bay in order to divest itself of responsibility for running Golden Bay Hospital.
However into the Joan Whiting, in 2008, the NMDHB simply guaranteed funding for 16 of the 17 beds, whilst it was 90 to 98% full.In 2009 there was a subsidy prop up of $126,000, and this year 2010 the so-called Hospital Charitable Trust made a repayable loan of $130,000. The total would therefore be well under $200,000 to the rest home.
Please stop believing your own rhetoric and misleading the people of Golden Bay. This goes for all spokespeople for the DHB, PHO and IMG.
Liza Eastman
Mr Cummins declined to respond to the above letter.
Battle Hymn of Joan Whiting
(To be sung to the US Battle Hymn of the Republic)
We’ve known for a long time that the writing’s on the wall.
With the Guvment policy, there is no hope at all.
It fails to meet inflation and that really does appall.
So Golden Bay fights on.
Ask, ask, where in Hell’s the Guvment?
Ask, ask, where in Hell’s the Guvment?
Ask, ask, where in Hell’s the Guvment?
So Golden Bay fights on.
With bums-in-beds the basis, diseconomies of scale.
Equality of treatment is a target bound to fail.
If they ever write the cheques they don’t get in the mail,
So Golden Bay fights on.
Ask, ask, where in Hell’s the Guvment?
Ask, ask, where in Hell’s the Guvment?
Ask, ask, where in Hell’s the Guvment?
So Golden Bay fights on.
We know where the Guvment is – God bless its cotton socks.
It is from the Beehive that we must remove the blocks,
And next year, if all else fails, we have the ballot box,
So Golden Bay fights on.
Put more pressure on the Guvment
Put more pressure on the Guvment
Put more pressure on the Guvment
So Golden Bay fights on.
Peter Foster
