More than a polluted lake

The toxicity of Lake Horowhenua (“Water wars”, August 26) is mirrored by the tangled web of claim and counterclaim lodged by various local tribal identities with the Waitangi Tribunal over the lake’s ownership.

When police inspector

Sarah Stewart commented that it was “a complex and long-running dispute” when asked about the book by Anne Hunt, partner of Phil Taueki, her words also summed up the situation regarding claims by Muaupoko, Ngati Raukawa and affiliated iwi.

Although much of the historical problem can be laid at the door of Pakeha greed, Maori greed also played a part and unfortunately, in my opinion, is continuing to do so. Tony Goodwin

Ngati Hikitanga Te Paea (Pt Chevalier, Auckland) I have read all three of Karl du Fresne’s excellent stories about Lake Horowhenua.

Phil Taueki, the lake’s unofficial guardian, has good reason to be angry as successive local authorities have done nothing to ameliorate what he has described as the “toilet of Levin”. His trouble with the law springs from a desire to clean up one of the most polluted lakes in the land.

Taueki deserves a gong in the next New Year Honours. So who is going to nominate him? Brian Collins (Aro Valley, Wellington)

SABRE-RATTLING SEASON

The behaviour seen from

North Korea during recent heightened tensions with the US doesn’t mark a significant departure from past periods of tension (“Mad or bad?”, August 26). In fact, in some ways it is less tense than in April 2013, when North Korea advised foreign diplomats to leave Pyongyang for their own safety, perhaps an indication that conflict was possible.

Tensions between it and the US are often heightened during April and August, when America and South Korea carry out joint military exercises, including practising “decapitation strikes” on the leadership in Pyongyang.

North Korea, unsurprisingly, does not like this, partly because of the threat to the leadership and partly because wars often start with military exercises near border regions, so the cash-strapped country is forced to mobilise its troops.

However, the turmoil in the US Administration creates new uncertainties that both sides risk misinterpreting.

The next lot of joint USSouth Korean exercises started on August 21 and will last several weeks, so we can expect the tensions to continue for some time. Max Watson (Castor Bay, Auckland)

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM

Readers of the story “DIY doctors” (August 12) could be excused for believing that the use of unsafe and unsanitary equipment is commonplace in New Zealand hospitals. This is not the case.

The article is a mix of anecdotes and the retelling of rare historical incidents, which paints an inaccurate picture.

There have been many safety improvements made in the healthcare sector over the years. Including some examples of these would have helped to make your story more balanced.

Patients should be assured that their safety is a priority for district health boards and DHBs will continue to improve services and reduce risk.

Dr Marion Poore and Dr Stephen Packer

Southern DHB medical director, women’s, children’s and public health directorate and medical director, surgical directorate, respectively

SAVING THE PLANET

Applause to the Listener for its two recent climate-related articles (“The Wright stuff”, August 5; “Suing to save us”, August 19). The first recognises

that in less than three years, carbon emissions must be falling to net zero or the globe faces catastrophic climate consequences. The second reports on the explosive growth of global climate litigation.

Further great news is the NZ Superannuation Fund’s divestment of $950 million from companies with high exposure to fossil fuels and the formation of Climate Consensus Coalition Aotearoa (CCCA), a non-partisan initiative of some 20 NGOs facilitated by the Wise Response Society, which aims to present a greenhousegas-emissions reduction plan to Parliament.

In this election year, it is heartening to see climate concerns come to the fore. Sharyn Barclay (Upper Riccarton, Christchurch) The court action people worldwide are taking over climate change led me to ponder, as someone on the cusp of 80, what I can do to support the movement.