Letters
Charter of Compassion
Charles Naylor’s rousing support for the Charter For Compassion (GBW 18/3) calls for further comment.
In an article in The Guardian on 10 November 2009, Karen Armstrong sets out the whys and hows of the origins of the charter, and its intention to initiate debate – “a Socratic dialogue” - “the world is polarised……engaged in destructive wars….facing environmental catastrophe”. The full article appears on the charter’s website. In short, support for the charter will be accompanied by dialogue if the charter is to carry any weight in civic affairs. To be effective, this sort of talkfest is not as simple as it may sound, and may well be between groups that differ in cultures, faiths, and governance, using the www. Any ideas, anyone?
Graham Milne
Kuaka celebration
With the departure of our Godwits (kuaka) this month, let’s bless their long arduous journey to Siberia and beyond. Japan needs navigating past, and Christchurch is no longer in a position to ring their bells in joy at their return. Wouldn’t ringing all our Golden Bay bells for these heroes when they return in September celebrate such a wonder?
Heather Wallace
Ligar Bay baches
Two weeks ago there was the Charter For Compassion in The GB Weekly and other articles about raising funds for Christchurch earthquake victims.
In Ligar Bay we have baches that will be demolished not by earthquake but holiday folk blackmailing the TDC with legal action if the licences are renewed. There are a couple of refugees from Christchurch who have lost their house, staying in a perfectly comfortable home that is to be removed by pressure from folk whose values appear to be based on land values and sea views, or maybe envy about others with beachfront views, who they perceive to have no more than squatters’ rights and not useful participating members of our community.
Envy is hard to fight and best left to a higher power. Surely a compromise can be met with conditions put on new licences. Not all holiday and local folk want our baches removed and our foreshore turned into rest areas (watch those freedom campers) and walkways. I feel people should read the Charter Of Compassion and rethink their values. It is sad to see our community divided. What can be done? Any ideas?
Val Parker
Expanded air services in Golden Bay
Ten thousand people are without homes in Christchurch due to the awful forces of nature. In Tasman it is our own council initiating the destruction of eight perfectly good heritage homes in Ligar Bay, despite a desperate shortage of housing in Golden Bay. In doing so, TDC will lose thousands of dollars in lease revenue and increase costs in reserve management. For what benefit to the wider community? A bit more beachfront reserve?
Paul Harrington commented in his excellent letter (GBW 25/3) on this subject that we’re not after a new runway. Actually we are. Golden Bay Air, its customers and tourism operators have been asking the council for four years to fix the cross-runway at Takaka Aerodrome so that expanded air services can safely be offered from there. Nelson Tasman Tourism estimates that this would bring in over $1.4 million into our community from new visitors every year. Why hasn’t this happened? Apparently the council hasn’t got the money.
So let’s keep those beautiful baches, at least for the lifetime of the existing owners, and use the lease income to service urgently needed works on reserve land we’ve already got.
Surely that’s a win-win solution?
Lisa Sheppard
This letter has been forwarded to TDC for comment.
New freedom-camping bylaw
When making submissions on the TDC Draft Freedom Camping Bylaw we need to remember that with freedom camping there are actually two issues. One is people in campervans, buses, station wagons, cars, etc, staying overnight in inappropriate parking places. The second is those vehicles/individuals without toilet facilities who assume “squatters’ rights” wherever and whenever they camp.
The first group takes over off-road car parks, not leaving room for regular short-term beach and jetty users or passersby to park.
The second group are an absolute menace with their unhygienic habits. For those of you tired of this subject who have heard the complaints but not seen the evidence, please feel free to take a tour round Collingwood beaches and off-road car parks. If you are early enough, or late enough in the day you will get to see the squatters in action. They’re easy to identify, with no hygiene standards, no pride and no respect for other people’s rights and property.
Who would want to take their children onto a beach that has piles of human excrement and used toilet paper? Why do we have to train those same children not to walk in the wet patches in the sand and the rushes?
It seems no one wants to come on strong and stop freedom campers, but let’s be realistic; allowing so-called freedom camping is also condoning squatters’ rights.
Tessa Gillooly
Submissions on the draft bylaw close 12 April. See page 2.
Kittens get love and sunshine
After a lovely visit to the Bay’s new SPCA cattery, I wanted to let everyone know that our SPCA is not a dreary, depressing place with small cages and cats waiting to be euthanased, but a lovely, friendly temporary home for cats and kittens ready to join a new family.
The SPCA does not euthanase healthy, tame cats, but encourages adoptions through low or no-cost adoption fees and partial coverage of costs associated with vaccination and desexing. The cats who live at the cattery are in large enclosures, with indoor and outdoor areas, cosy beds, chairs to perch on, other cats for company, and toys to play with. They get sunshine and fresh air, as well as lots of love and attention from cattery caretaker Carol.
If you are thinking of getting a cat or kitten, the SPCA is a welcoming place to meet a possible new pet. If you have kittens you need help rehoming, don’t think you need to have them killed: contact the SPCA, where your kittens will be well cared for, and good new homes found for them.
Lee Heller
Our rates to go up 7-8 per cent
According to Newsline, issue 18 March 2011, TDC plans to increase our rates next year by 7-8 per cent.
In these times of economic downturn and less money in everybody’s pocket, they too need to make do with less.
If this new rate hike worries and annoys you as much as it does me, you have until April 21 to make a submission. Demand a zero increase. If you think that this doesn’t concern you because you are only renting – think again. Of course, it will concern you - your rent is going to go up.
It is easy to be opposed to this rates increase but you need to “live it” too. Naturally you will have to be against anything nice-to-have, but not essential. So, no multipurpose facility, no water features on the old library site, no upgrade to the playground, no revamp of the Richmond CBD, no $50+ million performing arts centre, no museum extensions, etc. Right?
Rainer Huebler
How to turn tourists away
I have noted many strange ideas put forward over the last few years, but the letter wanting to declare Golden Bay “clothing optional” beats them all (GBW 25/3).
As for attracting tourists, the opposite would be more likely. I couldn’t think of anything worse than walking down Commercial Street and seeing people waltzing back and forth with no clothes on. Believe me, the only people who would flock here from across the planet would be those who only come to “ogle”, not to flourish businesses. These type we don’t need. Nudity is already becoming too prevalent on our public beaches and roads, and people and children should not be subjected to the sight of people parading, in public, in the nude.
This occupation (if one must do it) should be done in private or special places for such, so that those who are not inclined are not subjected to these sights.
Yes, we do love it here, so much so that we don’t need this type of carry-on to blemish Golden Bay; definitely not on the street, in shops, on beaches or any other public place. I can only hope that the proposed suggestion is only an April Fool’s joke.
Keep Golden Bay clean.
Ken Scott
Christchurch earthquakes
Is it not curious that the Christchurch earthquakes seem not to have caused any authorities to reflect on the wise old advice that we should not “put all our eggs in one basket”?
In the talk of the rebuilding of Christchurch I have not heard anyone suggest that here is a welcome chance for businesses to re-establish in other parts of Canterbury and thus reduce urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and the risks associated with the next natural disaster.
This morning I heard a radio discussion on a plan called “Auckland Unleashed”, which is looking to the time when Auckland supposedly will have an extra one million people. The civic and national leaders are concerned to make the more populous city function well. If I had the misfortune to be a resident of Auckland I would instead be concerned to prevent more people coming there.
The Government has a long-term plan to move the major Army base at Waiouru to Ohakea, to be alongside the existing Air Force base. What a lovely basket of eggs for an attacker! The Government must be very confident that no other country, or well-armed group of terrorists, will ever wish to attack New Zealand.
Concepts such as “economy of scale” and “critical mass” can be put up against my argument, but surely the recent earthquakes and tsunamis should cause planners to think again.
Robert Kennedy
Pantomime auditions
Once again the Takaka Drama Society Inc is to present a pantomime for your enjoyment and to raise funds for reroofing The Playhouse. Appropriately it is entitled Robin Hood - Raising the Roof and was written by Bryony Pearson, who was brought up in Golden Bay. We plan to have performances in the first two weeks of July. We need men, women and teens - about 20 in all. So all aspiring actors, here is your opportunity to have a fun few weeks. Come along to the auditions at 2pm, Sunday 10 April at The Playhouse.
Gillian Cunningham
Pakawau coastal erosion
As a Pakawau resident I would prefer the soft engineering option to protect my southern section from erosion.
Unfortunately, past and present climatic events have made this impossible on sections south of the camping ground.
In August 1966, the Pakawau coastline experienced one of the most destructive SE storms. Extensive damage was from Totara Avenue to Tomatea Pt. In some areas 15m of foreshore aws removed; worst affected were the Totara forshore, rock wall, McHardy’s pines, camping ground.
About 1967/68 Solly’s did the reconstructive work on these areas. Some northerly sections were rocked, the road moved, a stone wall erected at the campground and the Totara Avenue foreshore rocked (except two sections).
In 1972 there was a new nine-section development south of the camping ground and frontage pines felled. With increased SE storms these sections are at risk of serious erosion, except the camp wall, which has had no adverse affect. The boat ramp would not be a problem if all southerly sections had been hard engineered in line with the camp earlier.
Dr A Pearson’s analysis concerning northerly seabed sand drift is evident by extensive sand bars and build-up from Bird Island northwards to Pakawau. I believe this inshore shallowing of this cyclic build-up during SE storms is responsible for tsunami wave action of increased velocity and strength, catapaulting waves directly at the foreshore during very high tides, removing all evidence of recent sand dune restoration.
Storm severity on these southerly sections leaves hard engineering the only option.
Cost effectiveness in planning and construction is important so less fortunate residents can cover costs. We would hope this would be the choice of the Pakawau residents most affected, not an outside influence.
Nev Howse
