Letters, Sep 1
Support for Makara Peak
RE the article on Makara Peak and Nick Kemp (Capital Times, August 25). I take the liberty of pointing out that most of the MTB tracks in the Wellington area are built and maintained by volunteers. Because of this, the policy is to make them as maintenance free as is possible. Downhill and extreme tracks require more maintenance per rider than most other types of track. At Makara Peak, the tracks are constructed with the various abilities and skills of the riders in mind. Except for riders that feel the need for the “extreme challenge”. Nick Kemp should remember that riding most of the MTB tracks in the Wellington area is free of charge. Ask him also: how much time he has committed to development and maintenance of his favorite tracks. With his enthusiasm and experience, I am sure he would be welcome on any MTB group committee. In the 10 years I was on the Makara Peak Supporters Committee, I noticed that complaints came from those who had not contributed any time or money to the park development and upkeep. Unfortunately this would apply to a high number of MTB riders who use the park. Of course they have other commitments too and time is a limiting factor.
David Fowler, Wellington
P.S. Capital Times is a great paper. Thanks.
Gold Pass my ***
I read with interest NZ Bus’ response to your query regarding the Bus-about pass. While this pass appears to be cheaper, I wonder what their answer is regarding the new Get-about pass, the pass replacing the Gold Pass from 1 October. It took a call to GO Wellington to get any information on what was happening from 1 October, as my dairy owner was unable to give me any specifics about the replacement. Whereas the Gold Pass cost $99 a month, the Get-about pass increases in cost to $185. Also as the new monthly pass is based on the snapper card I have to fork out the $10 for one those as well. I wonder how they justify this cost jump? I was, helpfully, informed when I called the help centre that I could use the pass on the Hutt Buses, however as I have never caught a Hutt bus, this isn’t really that useful. Can’t we not have a midway pass that allows use on Wellington Central buses only, as the Gold Pass did? All in all I am not impressed – I expected an increase in the cost come 1 October, but not 86%. I also expected more upfront communication from GO Wellington, with a flier available with my last Gold Pass purchase or at least some message regarding the change. I wonder how many Gold Pass users will get a shock when they go to purchase their October pass?
Thomas Marylouise, Wellington
Outer T design comp
I write in support of Tom Law’s concerns about the faux competition WWL is holding for Queens Wharf’s Outer T. While I agree the waste of money involved is a concern, I am more worried about the message this sort of “competition” gives. Successive councils have ignored the results a people’s jury’s recommendation not to privatise our power and rejected the public’s choice for the design of Waitangi Park. I believe this overt ignoring of the wishes of the public has resulted in Wellingtonians losing faith that they can influence Council decisions. This is reflected in progressively lower turnouts at local body elections culminating in less than 50% of Wellingtonians casting their vote in the 2007 local body elections. I am standing in the Southern Ward this election and it is my intention to reverse this trend and give Wellingtonians confidence that, if Council asks for their opinion, their views will have a measurable effect.
Rex Nairn, Newtown
Escape police
Last week yet another innocent couple [was] killed by a disqualified driver running a red light whilst attempting to escape police. The offender, who is known to police, was driving a car believed to be unregistered and unwarranted at speeds of up to 90km in a 50km zone at the time. In the interest of justice, if this person is charged with manslaughter and found to be guilty, may it be that our judicial system will dispense a realistic sentence that will act as a deterrent not like sentences handed out by law courts recently.
Ron Blair, Te Aro (abridged)
Heather Roy
Bravo Martin Doyle, as always you are on the money with your According to Doyle column (Don’t rob Roy). You have a lovely turn of phrase, and I completely agree with you when you say: “Heather Roy is a tough unit. Outside of parliament, she’s a soldier, a physiotherapist and a mother of five kids. Consequently, she’s one of the few people who could smash every bone in your body with a rifle butt, massage you back to health with her healing hands, and then kiss your head and send you off to school with a neatly packed lunch. We need more like her.”
A Taylor, Wellington
Lambton ward
I was surprised to read that Sir Michael Fowler is vying for one of the Lambton ward seats in the upcoming local elections. He was mayor for nine years, and I am sure he was an asset to the city then. But really, the man is ancient. What more can he offer me that Ian McKinnon, Iona Pannet or Stephanie Cook don’t already? I was also surprised to see that none of the new candidates challenging the incumbents in the ward are female. Come on girls! Two out of nine is bad.
Mike White, Wellington
RE the article on Makara Peak and Nick Kemp (Capital Times, August 25). I take the liberty of pointing out that most of the MTB tracks in the Wellington area are built and maintained by volunteers. Because of this, the policy is to make them as maintenance free as is possible. Downhill and extreme tracks require more maintenance per rider than most other types of track. At Makara Peak, the tracks are constructed with the various abilities and skills of the riders in mind. Except for riders that feel the need for the “extreme challenge”. Nick Kemp should remember that riding most of the MTB tracks in the Wellington area is free of charge. Ask him also: how much time he has committed to development and maintenance of his favorite tracks. With his enthusiasm and experience, I am sure he would be welcome on any MTB group committee. In the 10 years I was on the Makara Peak Supporters Committee, I noticed that complaints came from those who had not contributed any time or money to the park development and upkeep. Unfortunately this would apply to a high number of MTB riders who use the park. Of course they have other commitments too and time is a limiting factor.
David Fowler, Wellington
P.S. Capital Times is a great paper. Thanks.
Gold Pass my ***
I read with interest NZ Bus’ response to your query regarding the Bus-about pass. While this pass appears to be cheaper, I wonder what their answer is regarding the new Get-about pass, the pass replacing the Gold Pass from 1 October. It took a call to GO Wellington to get any information on what was happening from 1 October, as my dairy owner was unable to give me any specifics about the replacement. Whereas the Gold Pass cost $99 a month, the Get-about pass increases in cost to $185. Also as the new monthly pass is based on the snapper card I have to fork out the $10 for one those as well. I wonder how they justify this cost jump? I was, helpfully, informed when I called the help centre that I could use the pass on the Hutt Buses, however as I have never caught a Hutt bus, this isn’t really that useful. Can’t we not have a midway pass that allows use on Wellington Central buses only, as the Gold Pass did? All in all I am not impressed – I expected an increase in the cost come 1 October, but not 86%. I also expected more upfront communication from GO Wellington, with a flier available with my last Gold Pass purchase or at least some message regarding the change. I wonder how many Gold Pass users will get a shock when they go to purchase their October pass?
Thomas Marylouise, Wellington
Outer T design comp
I write in support of Tom Law’s concerns about the faux competition WWL is holding for Queens Wharf’s Outer T. While I agree the waste of money involved is a concern, I am more worried about the message this sort of “competition” gives. Successive councils have ignored the results a people’s jury’s recommendation not to privatise our power and rejected the public’s choice for the design of Waitangi Park. I believe this overt ignoring of the wishes of the public has resulted in Wellingtonians losing faith that they can influence Council decisions. This is reflected in progressively lower turnouts at local body elections culminating in less than 50% of Wellingtonians casting their vote in the 2007 local body elections. I am standing in the Southern Ward this election and it is my intention to reverse this trend and give Wellingtonians confidence that, if Council asks for their opinion, their views will have a measurable effect.
Rex Nairn, Newtown
Escape police
Last week yet another innocent couple [was] killed by a disqualified driver running a red light whilst attempting to escape police. The offender, who is known to police, was driving a car believed to be unregistered and unwarranted at speeds of up to 90km in a 50km zone at the time. In the interest of justice, if this person is charged with manslaughter and found to be guilty, may it be that our judicial system will dispense a realistic sentence that will act as a deterrent not like sentences handed out by law courts recently.
Ron Blair, Te Aro (abridged)
Heather Roy
Bravo Martin Doyle, as always you are on the money with your According to Doyle column (Don’t rob Roy). You have a lovely turn of phrase, and I completely agree with you when you say: “Heather Roy is a tough unit. Outside of parliament, she’s a soldier, a physiotherapist and a mother of five kids. Consequently, she’s one of the few people who could smash every bone in your body with a rifle butt, massage you back to health with her healing hands, and then kiss your head and send you off to school with a neatly packed lunch. We need more like her.”
A Taylor, Wellington
Lambton ward
I was surprised to read that Sir Michael Fowler is vying for one of the Lambton ward seats in the upcoming local elections. He was mayor for nine years, and I am sure he was an asset to the city then. But really, the man is ancient. What more can he offer me that Ian McKinnon, Iona Pannet or Stephanie Cook don’t already? I was also surprised to see that none of the new candidates challenging the incumbents in the ward are female. Come on girls! Two out of nine is bad.
Mike White, Wellington
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