The Lettersto Editor

IColin Bidois

n response to Mr Leef and his misinformed shameful insulting of a Pirirākau Kaumātua Colin Bidois days after his passing, I wish to remind Mr Leef; that if it weren't for Colin Bidois - who was a kind, educated and a highly respected Pirirākau Kaumātua who was lovingly nicknamed Maungapōhatu by Ngāti Ranginui Treaty Settlement negotiators - Mr Leef would not have had a pathway to pursue his Treaty Settlement antics, nor would he have been able to participate under the Ngāti Ranginui hapū-centric Treaty Settlement Process.

Ngāti Ranginui Iwi recognises marae affiliated to the Iwi. Pirirākau has four Marae which Mr Leef is a member of. As Mr Colin Bidois was one of my Kaumātua I can not stand by and allow this to go unresponded.

Julie Shepherd

Environment Manager

Pirirākau Incorporated Society

Goldfields trip

The Waihī Beach Menz Shed has rearranged a fun trip to Waikino on the Goldfields Railway for 11th November at 10am. Those who wish to take their bikes on the train through to Waikino and cycle back are most welcome.

Tickets are $20 including coffee and scone or cake at Waikino Railway Station. Proceeds will support Menz Shed and Blue September for the Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ.

You can pay online into the Menzshed Bank account - Waihī Beach Community Development Charitable Trust - 06-04730447945-00. Please state your name in the reference field. Tickets will then be issued by Tom Wallace.

If you wish to attend, payment can be made on the day. However we would appreciate knowing you are going to attend, so we can formulate final numbers.

For those who have already paid but are now unable to attend, please let Tom Wallace know at karen.tomw@gmail.com so he can arrange a refund.

Don Oliver, Waihī Beach.

Report boy racers

Regarding an article in the October 2020 Lizard News about a gentleman who had a very lucky escape from serious injury, after being deliberately targeted by a boy racer. I was shocked, then angered that this sort of thing could happen. I know we have idiots racing around our streets, but never for one minute did I think one would deliberately target a person then drive away - leaving the scene of an accident without finding out if the person was injured.

I hope the culprit has learned a valuable lesson, that being, he could have been facing manslaughter charges - not to mention reckless driving causing injury and public nuisance charges - had the poor gentleman died as a result of being deliberately targeted.

It is a pity the make and model of the car had not been gathered as evidence and the culprit arrested. I’m sure his parents would have been gutted to hear their son had done such a ridiculous thing.

We don’t need these idiots on our streets. Hopefully the next time they target an area the details of their vehicles will be gathered and given to Police so they can be dealt to with the fullest extent of the law.

Shirley Gussey, Ōmokoroa.

The Editor responds: I received another email relating to driver behaviour following the story mentioned above. The writer was not asking to have this published as a letter to the editor but asked if I would give some more space to such concerns.

Firstly the writer referred to an incident earlier this year, where her visiting son-in-law went outside for a smoke in the middle of the night. He was standing under street lights so he would have been visible to car drivers, when a car with two men came flying around a roundabout and narrowly missed hitting him. Apparently they stopped, backed up and asked him if he was alright before hooning off again in a terrifying experience.

Not cleaning up after your dog.

Another complaint from the same correspondent related to a local letting their dog loose, perhaps at night, to poo in the gardens of other residents at Kaimai Views in Ōmokoroa. Photo or video proof of irresponsible dog ownership reported to Council could be the answer. It’s a $300 fine for failing to remove dog poo, or any example of not being under proper control. It’s a shame that some of the “turds” are driving cars.

Food Bank drive

Cyberlink is organising the annual Ōmokoroa food drive on Tuesday 1st December. Please keep an ear out for the volunteer fire brigade sirens and support it generously.

Here is a list of items the food bank uses regularly. Toiletries: toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, handsoap. Cleaning products: washing powder, dishwashing liquid, toilet cleaner. Tinned food: tomatoes, kidney beans, chick peas, four bean mix (no more baked beans, please) tuna, salmon, pilchards. Pasta sauces and rice. Breakfast cereals. Spreads: jam, peanut butter, vegemite, cheese spreads. Biscuits and crackers, both sweet and savoury. Hot drinks: tea, coffee, Milo, hot chocolate. Long life milk. We really appreciate your support.

Rick Peers, Ōmokoroa.