Letters 9 December 2011
Goodies for quake families
Rural Women and Federated Farmers, under the banner of the “Farmy Army”, plan to distribute food to quake distressed families in the Eastern suburbs of Christchurch on Friday 16 December.
Please can you help by contributing goodies. They must be items which do not need refrigerating and don’t perish quickly (eg biscuits and slices). They need to be packed into icecream containers. These are to be delivered to PGG/Wrightsons in Takaka. They are generously collecting and sending them south. The latest date is 13 December.
People often say “How can we help?” Well here is one small way to provide some assistance. Feel free to add a note of support and encouragement; even gift wrap and give some Christmas cheer.
My contact details are ph 524 8364 or email: kaihoka@xtra.co.nz
Joyce Wyllie
Ambassador’s desire for Maori input
Nowadays, in our efforts to be politically, racially and religiously correct, we often engage in what’s called ‘revisionist history’. The Dutch ambassador, Arie van der Wiel, is subject to such revision when he naively calls for input on the Abel Tasman events from ‘those who lived here at the time’. Most of us, I’m sure, know that the Golden Bay Maori today are not ‘those who lived here at the time’. In fact, some Maori historians claim that those who met Tasman were not the same as those who met Cook 130 years later and, of course, those who met Cook were largely eliminated by Te Rauparaha’s minions in 1828. Further, given no written history, it’s all a bit like Chinese whispers, so anything close to a detailed and accurate account of a single event some 370 years ago could be rather elusive.
Larry Petterson
Ed: The article did not say that Manawhenua ki Mohua were the people who lived here at the time. It mentioned the desire of the ambassador to engage with Manawhenua ki Mohua. He presumably believes that they have as good a chance as anyone of being able to represent the perspective of tangata whenua in the telling of the story of the encounter between Tasman and the local inhabitants. Through the work of scholars like John and Hilary Mitchell, all people have been able to gain a broader understanding of historical events in this region. We don’t think that every additional piece of knowledge should be be seen as revisionist in effect: it might equally be seen as enriching and deepening our understanding.
Ageing in Place in Golden Bay
Thank you to all those members of our community who completed and returned the Ageing in Place in Golden Bay research project questionnaire. Two thousand copies of the questionnaire were sent out and 600 returned. This equates to a response rate of 35 per cent, very high for a survey of this nature, indicating that many residents in Golden Bay see this as a worthwhile project.
The qualitative data material collected is of a size and complexity as expected. In addition the survey provided a large body of supplementary qualitative material far richer than had been foreseen as a considerable number of the respondents used the opportunity to provide more comprehensive comments about their experiences and expectations about getting older and “ageing in place “ in Golden Bay.
The research project has now reached the stage where all the necessary data has been collected through a range of methods including questionnaires, interviews with individuals and with service agencies, and the analysis of the data has been carried out. The final stage is to interpret the findings and write the final report.
This research project is a collaboration between Vandeskog Social Research and the Golden Bay Workcentre Trust. The final report on the findings will be submitted to the Lottery Grants Board Community Sector Research committee for by 1 February 2012. We look forward to sharing this report with the community as soon as possible after this date.
Golden Bay Work Centre
Geophysic surveys
I wondered how long before someone from the Golden Bay branch of the Flat Earth Society would moan as in recent letters re: helicopter activities connected with the proposed Sam’s Creek venture (GBW letters 2/12).
While one can sympathise with the annoying buzz of such activities, should not the mining of what has been touted as the second (?) largest deposit of extractable gold in New Zealand go ahead?
The opportunities for long-term employment and the national wealth created is going to be of benefit to not only the Golden Bay community but the nation’s as well. Such inconveniences must be tolerated if not heartily encouraged.
Such negative views as from your previous correspondent with regards to exploiting our mineral wealth (especially when it involves national parks, shock horror) that has held our nation back and while is nice to have warm fuzzies about the protection of our fauna and flora, unless that natural wealth is exploited (with all the attendant protection put in) this country will be rapidly heading down the same track as Ireland, Italy and Greece.
I say: hoick the stuff out, take out the coal and oil and any of our natural wares that has international commodity value and get New Zealand back on track to the caring, wealthy nation it was instead of bleating about a bit of personal indisposition. (Abridged)
Jeff Woodward
Local real estate agent found guilty
For those who read Saturday’s Nelson Mail (3-12-11), “Real Estate Agent Avoids Censure”, we wish to clarify a few points. This saga has not been 8 months. It has been over two years. Mr Handisides’ assertion to the question of compensation “that the court doesn’t ascribe to some being made” is misleading. We were not seeking compensation from the Tribunal. The hearing was purely based on an appeal by Mr Handisides to overturn the REAA’s finding that he was guilty of “unsatisfactory conduct”. His appeal was dismissed. However the Tribunal stated “If we had been able to award compensation then we would have considered very carefully an application by the Crudens for compensation relating to the cost of gaining access to the building site they eventually established”. This matter is still to be finalised.
Mr Nick Hodgkinson stated under the heading “Real Estate Industry Faces New Regulations and Procedures” (GB Weekly 5/3/10) : “Hopefully it will bring into the open everything the seller should know about a property and rein in those real estate agents who have been a bit unscrupulous in the past”. If you are looking at buying or selling real estate in Golden Bay, go to the REAA website www.reaa.govt.nz and check out the name of the Golden Bay agents listed on this website for unsatisfctory conduct. (Abridged)
Karen and Paul Cruden
Response from Nick Hodgkinson, principal, Golden Bay First National:
It is correct that a Golden Bay Sales Agent was recently censured by the REAA with regards an undeveloped 100 acre back country property purchase, whereby a sales consultant relayed boundary information from the Vendor to the Purchaser, which was later found to be incorrect. The 100 acre block was surveyed in 1886.
The case was judged as unsatisfactory conduct and no fine or penalty was imposed. First National Golden Bay has since updated its processes to prevent similar sceniarios.
With very old titles that have not been surveyed using modern survey methods, or are “limited as to parcels”, adjoining neighbours may have accepted an identifier such as an old strainer post or a tree as adequate indication of a boundary.
These boundary defining marks may not necessarily be correct when a modern survey is completed, which can lead to serious complications and disappointment when the true boundaries are later discovered.
Golden Bay First National has since introduced a clause into future sales agreements involving property which may not have been surveyed using modern methods to ensure satisfaction that boundaries have been correctly located or that the purchaser is comfortable with the information received.
The new clause means First National Golden Bay will no longer rely on the “conduit of information” system of law, whereby a sales consultant relays information from a council, overhead photo, an owner, an agent or neighbour as to a boundary’s location.
The Cruden’s case proved to be very complex and has taken over two years to be heard and appealed and naturally we are disappointed that the appeal proved to be unsuccessful.
We accept that the boundary line is not where the salesperson was led to believe it was. This is an extremely unfortunate situation that has caused on-going stress to all parties involved.
Rubbish dumping on Rangihaeata Road
To the person who dumped their supermarket bag full of rubbish at my gate on Monday between 8:30 -9:45, you’ll be pleased to know that I untied my bag and added it to my rubbish. I would encourage you to buy your own rubbish bags in future. I noticed that you can afford to buy expensive cat food sachets (amongst other things in your rubbish) so I’m sure you can afford the $1.50 or so for a rubbish bag. And we do have a great recycling system so I would also encourage you to recycle the paper and cardboard that you had mixed in with the rubbish too.
The council only collect rubbish that is inside a council rubbish bag or else no one would bother to buy the bags and we’d all just be putting out supermarket bags full of rubbish at our gate.
Fleur Murray, 129 Rangihaeata Road
Te Waikoropupu Springs signage
Having read the articles in the Nelson Mail of 29 November 2011 and the Motueka Golden Bay News of 1 December 2011 I think it is really important to understand that everyone that I know of supports using the Maori name for the actual springs. This may not have been clear in the articles. In the interests of practicality and simplicity we would very much appreciate having the road names remain as we now know them.
Jill Pearson
Pupu Valley
I would like to refute a recent article published in the Nelson Mail and the Motueka Golden Bay News that was blatantly misleading in content.
The article refers to the naming of Te Waikoropupu Springs and the proposed renaming of Pupu Valley Road and Pupu Springs Road to Te Waikoropupu Valley Road and Te Waikoropupu Springs Road respectively. To discuss the renaming of the roads a meeting was arranged by the Golden Bay Community Board and the residents of Pupu Valley.
At no time during the meeting was there any voiced opposition to naming the springs to Te Waikoropupu Springs as it was recognised that this has cultural or spiritual significance to local iwi. Additionally the springs reserve has already been accorded its new name by DOC.
There was however a majority agreement by the residents at the meeting that their wishes are for the local road names be retained as Pupu Valley Road and Pupu Springs Road. The board undertook to conduct a phone survey of all the valley’s ratepayers regarding their view on the road names.
Ms Chris Hill (GB iwi representative) is reported in the newspaper articles as being “determined to pursue the matter despite residents’ views”. Roads were built as post-colonial constructions so it is difficult to perceive where there can be any cultural or spiritual significance attached to the naming of roads. (Abridged)
Robert Sampson
Movement of the 99%
To the 99% of people in Golden Bay who wish to see a more equable and fair world, the Wall St and global occupy movement is holding an international day of peaceful action, beginning at 12pm on Monday the 12th of December 2011. World over, thousands of people will be taking a stand against greedy corporate and political leaders. Those in the Bay wishing to show solidarity for occupy movements, there is a meeting tonight at 5pm, Village Green to discuss Golden Bay’s part in the day of action. It’s time to dust off your activist shoes, but this time bring a tent and picnic. All are welcome. Tent pitching workshops will be available.
Peter Carlton
Rototai Health Trust
If Dr Eastman’s plan has been reported correctly in the Nelson Mail 6 December, our older citizens should sit up and take notice. We would end up with a new medical centre on land which TDC has designated flood-prone. Of more importance, Golden Bay would lose its only rest home facility, and your families would be travelling to Motueka and points east, to visit you, should you eventually need the services of a rest home.
Graham Milne
Vic Eastman, trustee and treasurer on behalf of Golden Bay Rototai Health Centre Charitable Trust, replies:
The TDC Takaka River Flood Hazard Issues and Options Paper November 2011, available at:
<http://www.tasman.govt.nz/link/takaka-flood-modelling/>
which is based on new high-resolution LIDAR contour mapping and sophisticated flood modelling, indicates the area Rototai Health has chosen for development has minimal and manageable flooding risk, better than almost any other area within the Takaka township. All citizens, not just the elderly, should be reassured by this report.
Jewellery studio delay
I advertised my studio Stone Arrow Jewellery as being open to sell jewellery in the Artists in Golden Bay guide 2012. Unfortunately resource consent issues have come up (ie I haven’t got one!) and I am unable to open to the public until this is resolved.
I am doing my best to get the appropriate consent but this will take some time and may or may not be possible so I apologise to anyone this has inconvenienced.
In the meantime I will have a stall at the Village Green on Fridays and be at the market on Saturdays at least until the end of January. Have a great Xmas.
Nick Feint
Heart Art presents Golden Bay Art Expo
An opportunity for all artists of Golden Bay to participate in a promotion of the arts of Golden Bay this summer. Visual artists are invited to submit artwork to a temporary gallery at 4 Commercial Street, Takaka, from 15 January until 15 February. The cost is $10 per artwork per week, but there will be no commission on works sold. If you have only small pictures you can rent the whole screen or a wall space at a realistic size. I will try to make it fair for everyone; we just need to talk about it.
A large TV screen running a continuous slide show of digital photography will be installed. Local photographers are invited to submit CDs of up to 10 photos.
Continuous background music will showcase Golden Bay musicians. Recordings from musicians are also being requested and CDs can be for sale.
I encourage all artists to include a bio and bring in their business cards and information about their gallery opening times. There’s a space at the back that offers an opportunity for a resident artist. I am calling for applications for this position. Buskers are welcome out on the street.
To ensure that you get a space or to be involved or any enquiries, please contact me on 525 7974 or email tribulldrums@xtra.co.nz
Grant Knowles
Death By Radiation?
With reference to Joanna Piekarski’s letter (GBW 2/12) I am one of the technicians installing wifi and cellphone equipment around the Bay. If Joanna can do the following then I undertake to stop putting the gear in. Could she please email me (alangot2@fastmail.fm) references substantiating all her claims. They will need to cite properly conducted clinical trials that show the effects she claims. I will check all the references and if they hold up she’ll get what she’s advocating for with my work anyway.
Alan Gotlieb
Death by radiation writes Joanna Piekarski GBW 2 Dec. Wifi & mobile towers radio waves mutilating our DNA; it had to come out! I for one have noticed changes. I have seen trout in the Aorere swimming backwards. I saw a pig at Westhaven with a straight tail. Just yesterday I gave my dog a scratch and noticed he has grown another set. And I have not seen nor heard a fairy in the woods since the mushroom storm. The last time the voice spoke to me it said that I will be reincarnated as the Easter Bunny. Have a giggle if you like but there is more to this. Is there a rising sea level link or will they flick frequency and all of mankind is wifi zombied; radiation conspiracy? This number is disconnected . . .
Paul Jowsey
