Central Otago airports just a moneyspinner?

IT’S no surprise that Air New Zealand is pushing for an alternative to Queenstown Airport as I’m sure it wants to make a killing both from tourists flying into the region and from local residents.

I must admit that I am an import to this area, having moved here just three years ago. Apart from the wonderful lifestyle that we enjoy in the area, one of the main factors that drew me here was access to internal and international flights.

However, I do think local residents are being fleeced by the airlines.

For example: I wanted to fly from Queenstown to Sydney next Thursday, but the only direct flight on Air New Zealand is $1009 — one way.

Jetstar has no available direct flights but, even so, their price via Christchurch or Auckland is in the region of $600.

Compare this to flights from Auckland to Sydney (a slightly longer distance and flight time), where Air New Zealand offers a choice of five direct flights ranging in price from $292 to $362.

From Christchurch to Sydney there are two direct flights at $190 or $331.

Are we being taken for a ride by our national airline?

Bob Scott

Cromwell

I NOTE with some bemusement the current debate as to where the next airport for Central Otago should go.

Surely this is a good time for the powers that be to think outside the square?

There is ample room for Dunedin Airport to expand without impinging on the residential environment, as is happening in Central.

Smaller planes or buses could connect from Dunedin to Queenstown and Wanaka.

Dunedin and the South could become the true Gateway to Central Otago, benefiting in no small part from the increase in tourism which is threatening to destroy the unique Central Otago we once knew.

Carolyn Richardson

Dunedin

Chewing it over

SURPRISINGLY, Alan Mark (ODT,

15.10.18) misses the point about New Zealand’s vegetation evolution under multimillion years of browsing.

He is contrary to ecologists such as worldrenowned scientist the late Dr Graeme Caughley, who estimated moa numbered probably several million compared to Landcare’s deer estimate of 250,000. Even insects browse snow grass.

A mid1960s Forest Research Institute study at Cupola Basin, Nelson showed grasshoppers are an important herbivore browser, browsing snow grass much more than deer and chamois.

At a 1986 symposium on moas, mammals and climate change, several scientists described browsers such as invertebrate beech leafrollers and moths. Kereru were identified as strong browsers, as were kakapo and takahe.

And several scientists said browsing habits of introduced animals (e.g. deer) were not too dissimilar from those of lostavifauna (moas and others).

Prof Mark appears afflicted with an ‘‘antiintroduced phobia’’.

Tony Orman

Blenheim

Kauri in the South

I WAS interested to read (ODT,

6.10.18) the item regarding kauri tree planting in Dunedin.

It reminded me of a visit many years ago to what was the New Zealand Forest Service forest at Taieri Beach. Workers there had planted an area in kauri.

The trees were growing quite healthily but, in trying to find them not long after, we had no luck

I am wondering if they still exist?

E. J. Munro

Dunedin