Letters
Freedom Campers
The actions of one person, in his assault, on defenceless freedom campers, at Pakawau, although understandable, cannot be condoned - neither can council’s continued inaction, prevarication and fence-sitting on what is turning into a national problem, be condoned.
Action in the form of active policing of signed no-camping areas, road edges, school bus bays, laybys, and self-contained vehicle only areas and the moving on of the offenders to legitimate camp sites with the requisite facilities should be high on the “must do” list, for not only TDC but all other councils suffering this same affliction, especially in light of the host of “el cheapo” fans who are going to descend on us over the Rugby World Cup period. Freedom crappers for miles, mate.
Joe Bell asserts that TDC (ie the ratepayer) is going to be down the gurgler to the tune of $250m in a short while. Is it then fair that we continue to support these people who spend or leave little or bugger all, apart from their faeces and rubbish, with free internet, toilet and rubbish facilities supplied, without them making some sort of contribution by paying their way? NO.
Jeff Woodward
Cabaret in the Cave fundraising raffle
Thank you so much for all the community support we have received in donated items and services for our fundraising raffle. We now have around $2,000 worth of prizes, and tickets are on sale. Money raised will cover the costs of putting on this free community event on Sunday 20 February, and we will be able to pay the performers involved.
We are looking for volunteers to help on the day - 4WD vehicles, parking wardens, cave preparation and clean-up etc. There are also opportunities for young and old to get into character and make the whole afternoon a wonderful adventure.
Enquiries ph 525 8771.
Hera Livingston, event co-ordinator
Bottle smashing at reserve
To the young men, sorry, idiots who entertained themselves on the evening of Friday 21 January with throwing beer bottles all around Rototai Reserve and smashing them on the road for cyclists, horses, children, etc to be injured by:. You know who you are and you should have more respect for Golden Bay and the people who live here.
Maybe one day you will care for more than the drunken “fun” that stimulates your reduced brain cells. Grow up!
Niwa Pentecost
Telephone scam costs hundreds
The latest scam running rampant in Golden Bay is a telephone call from Microsoft saying that your computer is at risk from hackers.
One client did the right thing and hung up.
Another client followed the prompts of the person on the phone until told to change security settings, then took down his name, company name, and Auckland telephone number. My research showed this to be a dodgy, yet not quite illegal, company out of India.
Then I got my own cold call. They gave a fake call-back number - the number to my own internet service provider. I called my ISP and they said no-one there had called me. They went on to assure me that this has been going on all over New Zealand for the last three months.
In the worst instance yet, a client told me that his father had fallen victim to this scam to the tune of $200. His mother received aggressive calls daily for a week until he threatened to go to the cops on her behalf. Some weeks later they called again. This time his dad answered the phone. They had him changing settings and downloading things for two hours, then billed his credit card.
Finally, another client reported that she received a scam call. She does not have internet access.
Please do not be a victim! Microsoft will not call you about your security. The IRD will not email you about a refund. You have not just won a million dollars. If it sounds dodgy, check with ScamBusters.co.nz or do a search for the word ‘scam’ and the item in question. When in doubt, say NO, hang up, and call me at 525 8885.
Sundance of Golden Bay Computers
Integrated Health Care
The many serious concerns voiced over the IMG have been ignored by the group pushing this huge, expensive project. You may think that the IMG was formed to improve conditions for us, but that is not the case.
The “many hours of meeting” were limited to those keen to make it happen for reasons like getting the DHB off the hook and the doctors onto salaries. We have lost one wonderful doctor and some nurses and our only radiographer so far under this new system that you have been told is so good for you. If you liked Andy Clark’s plan, you should know another plan from experts has replaced it and you may not be impressed.
The single redeeming factor of this project is the possibility of moving the rest home into the new facility; however there is no assurance that it will survive within the new building, because the same funding stream will be in place.
The continuous sales pitch, with unsubstantiated claims by people with no clue about health services, keeps flowing, and there has been no meaningful debate and neither has there been a comprehensive health study to determine our actual needs, before we go into debt for millions. We need to reject this move and save what we have.
Victoria Davis
