Opinion
Opinion
Updated: Thursday, 1 October
Polls
Letters to the editor
Treaty circus
I wasn't greatly impressed by statements by Dame Claudia Orange (February 1) about the great significance and value of Waitangi Day - they mainly amounted to a lot of cliches and waffle about New Zealand's alleged multiculturalism and diversity, which I regard as so much wicked cant and hypocrisy parroted by the PC crowd and the trendy lefties.
Dame Claudia did briefly remark that the Resource Management Act hasn't worked, but she circumspectly didn't say why. The RMA has mostly proved to be an obstacle to progress and development, chiefly because of that Maori "consultation" she highly approves of. The word "consult" usually means "pay" in cash or in kind; so if a tribe has let it be known that, failing a hefty payment and/or concession, it will not allow some project to proceed, private enterprise will often jib at paying, and so will abort that project.
As for our being a great little country that all these PC policies will make even better, old people like me know that NZ is not nearly the great little country it was before c.1975, and has been progressively and rapidly "going to Hell in a bucket" ever since. And much of the rot set in with the Treaty industry and Treaty circus.
H. Westfold, Miramar (abridged).
One treaty, two versions
Ignorance is bliss. If Irene Fagan (Wrote On, February 15) had read the Treaty of Waitangi she would be aware there are two versions, one in Te Reo and the other in the Queen’s English.
What Maori signed up for and agreed to is completely different to the version written in English. That is why we’re having so many treaty settlements. The colonial masters of the day thought they could put one over the indigenous people. History and time has caught up with such rorts.
Land was confiscated, acquired, acquisitioned, call it what you may. People were displaced, whole villages annihilated all in the name of progress. And Pakeha called themselves ‘civilised’.
As for Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s involvement, the 1970’s are a moot point. We had Bastion Point, even the “Dawn Raids’, all the hallmarks of a rumbustious National Government. Sir Geoffrey didn’t enter Parliament until August 1979, so how he was able to enact legislation throughout the 1970’s is highly contentious.
Peter Kennedy, Melrose.
Helmet hair
Re. Compulsory helmet wear (February 15). I understand helmet hair. I am a woman and I love to ride my bike. I ride every day for commuting and for the sheer pleasure of the activity. When I’m off on a work ride, as a fitness instructor, my cycle clothing and “pulled back into a pony tail hair” is professional and appropriate. For going out, shopping and other non-sport activity I have adopted a few hair styles that are appropriate with a helmet.
I believe helmets are very important. I get just a wee less precious with my “do” and maybe bring a few hair pins in my bag or a flower to pin and I’m good.
A person may just need to get their head around a change of style for the sake of safety. It’s not a bad idea to know how to pin ones hair back/up in this city. Let’s not forget the wind!
Tracy Teramoto, Wellington (abridged).
Safety issues
The Cycling Advocates Network’s current policy supports what Simon and Isabella say. It states: “There is evidence that mandatory cycle helmet wearing legislation is not working as intended and should be reviewed. Priority needs to be given to other safety issues such as motorist behaviour and roading improvements.”
Patrick Morgan, Wellington.
George’s tale
George is a two year-old happy loving pup, well socialised around kids and other dogs. He went missing on Friday February 3 from the bottom of Normandale bridge. His owner notified the Lower Hutt pound, SPCA, and gave lots of veterinarian’s his microchip number. Lots of posters and flyers went up in the Hutt and Wellington. You’d think that if someone found George they’d call the pound or SPCA to let them know, so why haven’t they?
Could it be someone has stolen him? Unfortunately, dog theft is a sad reality. George is a red-nose pit bull/Staffordshire cross and some people turn them into fighting dogs and organise illegal dog fighting matches. Let’s collectively grow some courage and stop this pointless hurtful nasty behavior.
Bronwyn Bell, Wellington (abridged)
Tracking Frederick Abbott
I am looking for information on the Wellington Brewery around the 1849-50 mark, on behalf of our local museum here in Waipawa, Central Hawkes Bay.
The founder of our town, Frederick Abbott, was managing this brewery during these years and I’m trying to track his movements until his arrival in Hawkes Bay in the mid to late 1850s.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Michael Bennett, Waipawa Hawkes Bay.
I wasn't greatly impressed by statements by Dame Claudia Orange (February 1) about the great significance and value of Waitangi Day - they mainly amounted to a lot of cliches and waffle about New Zealand's alleged multiculturalism and diversity, which I regard as so much wicked cant and hypocrisy parroted by the PC crowd and the trendy lefties.
Dame Claudia did briefly remark that the Resource Management Act hasn't worked, but she circumspectly didn't say why. The RMA has mostly proved to be an obstacle to progress and development, chiefly because of that Maori "consultation" she highly approves of. The word "consult" usually means "pay" in cash or in kind; so if a tribe has let it be known that, failing a hefty payment and/or concession, it will not allow some project to proceed, private enterprise will often jib at paying, and so will abort that project.
As for our being a great little country that all these PC policies will make even better, old people like me know that NZ is not nearly the great little country it was before c.1975, and has been progressively and rapidly "going to Hell in a bucket" ever since. And much of the rot set in with the Treaty industry and Treaty circus.
H. Westfold, Miramar (abridged).
One treaty, two versions
Ignorance is bliss. If Irene Fagan (Wrote On, February 15) had read the Treaty of Waitangi she would be aware there are two versions, one in Te Reo and the other in the Queen’s English.
What Maori signed up for and agreed to is completely different to the version written in English. That is why we’re having so many treaty settlements. The colonial masters of the day thought they could put one over the indigenous people. History and time has caught up with such rorts.
Land was confiscated, acquired, acquisitioned, call it what you may. People were displaced, whole villages annihilated all in the name of progress. And Pakeha called themselves ‘civilised’.
As for Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s involvement, the 1970’s are a moot point. We had Bastion Point, even the “Dawn Raids’, all the hallmarks of a rumbustious National Government. Sir Geoffrey didn’t enter Parliament until August 1979, so how he was able to enact legislation throughout the 1970’s is highly contentious.
Peter Kennedy, Melrose.
Helmet hair
Re. Compulsory helmet wear (February 15). I understand helmet hair. I am a woman and I love to ride my bike. I ride every day for commuting and for the sheer pleasure of the activity. When I’m off on a work ride, as a fitness instructor, my cycle clothing and “pulled back into a pony tail hair” is professional and appropriate. For going out, shopping and other non-sport activity I have adopted a few hair styles that are appropriate with a helmet.
I believe helmets are very important. I get just a wee less precious with my “do” and maybe bring a few hair pins in my bag or a flower to pin and I’m good.
A person may just need to get their head around a change of style for the sake of safety. It’s not a bad idea to know how to pin ones hair back/up in this city. Let’s not forget the wind!
Tracy Teramoto, Wellington (abridged).
Safety issues
The Cycling Advocates Network’s current policy supports what Simon and Isabella say. It states: “There is evidence that mandatory cycle helmet wearing legislation is not working as intended and should be reviewed. Priority needs to be given to other safety issues such as motorist behaviour and roading improvements.”
Patrick Morgan, Wellington.
George’s tale
George is a two year-old happy loving pup, well socialised around kids and other dogs. He went missing on Friday February 3 from the bottom of Normandale bridge. His owner notified the Lower Hutt pound, SPCA, and gave lots of veterinarian’s his microchip number. Lots of posters and flyers went up in the Hutt and Wellington. You’d think that if someone found George they’d call the pound or SPCA to let them know, so why haven’t they?
Could it be someone has stolen him? Unfortunately, dog theft is a sad reality. George is a red-nose pit bull/Staffordshire cross and some people turn them into fighting dogs and organise illegal dog fighting matches. Let’s collectively grow some courage and stop this pointless hurtful nasty behavior.
Bronwyn Bell, Wellington (abridged)
Tracking Frederick Abbott
I am looking for information on the Wellington Brewery around the 1849-50 mark, on behalf of our local museum here in Waipawa, Central Hawkes Bay.
The founder of our town, Frederick Abbott, was managing this brewery during these years and I’m trying to track his movements until his arrival in Hawkes Bay in the mid to late 1850s.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Michael Bennett, Waipawa Hawkes Bay.
