Common culture should occupy public square

Nobody is attempting to deny the right of a part-Maori New Zealanders to affiliate to a Maori kin group and embrace what they regard as Maori culture, provided they do it in their own time and on their own dime.

That means a shared common New Zealand culture occupies the public square.

Any subcultural affiliations are a private matter for those concerned, funded and engaged in by those who value them, with no financial or other claim of any kind on those who don’t.

For those who pretend to be indigenous because they are partMaori and prefer to elevate that above their other ancestors, that’s entirely their business.

However it is a different matter when these opportunists start trying to put their hand in fellow New Zealanders’ pockets and colonise the public square in order to force the language and culture of their adoption on others.

It then becomes the business of other New Zealanders, who are being compelled to pay or adopt something they don’t want or value.

Raising animal welfare

David Burroughs’ article on the inter-generational appeal of calf day in Taranaki (Oct, 19), with cute photos of children with their pets from Norfolk School, was a terrific feel good story.

Several years ago I took two female Scandinavian exchange students sightseeing. A highlight was calling in at the Kaponga calf day at Victoria Park. Being animal lovers and strict vegetarians they loved it. But they were shocked by Home kill business in the main street of Kaponga.

They were also concerned our cows didn’t have enough shelter - especially shade. Maybe their reactions were extreme and naive. However, with so many farmers removing box thorn hedges in South Taranaki, and with profit margins so tight, it doesn’t hurt to raise the issue of animal welfare. Bryan Vickery Hawera

Ducks in a row

Great story about the duck race at Mental Health Awareness week.

However Supporting Families is not run by Taranaki District Health Board. Supporting Families in Mental Illness Taranaki is a community organisation run by family members for family members, started by parents of people diagnosed with schizophrenia and operating self funded out of their lounges and garages.

We now have an office in Devon St but remain the independent voice for family members within the mental health system.

Fortunately we have a contract with TDHB to employ two family support workers and a Children of Parents with a Mental Illness or Addiction peer support worker.

But we do a lot more in the community: groups for families with eating disorders, Building Bridges with nursing students, Touched by Suicide support groups, and most recently, thanks to generosity of TSB Community Trust, we have been running Circle of Security attachment parenting groups to help parents make a secure relationship with their babies. Lynne Holdem Supporting Families in Mental Illness

New Plymouth

Just a job advert

The title of Saturday October 22nd’s editorial ‘‘The power of being un-PC’’, more accurately ought to have been titled ‘‘The power of a job vacancy hitting the headlines’’.

The job vacancy advertisement was blunt, direct, uncompromising and posted by someone potentially grumpy, fed up and intolerant - but none of that makes the advertisement un-PC.

PC is a term bandied about far too much - usually to take a swipe at people who are courteous and compassionate. I’m sure the advertiser will find a suitable candidate.

And I’m sure he won’t base that on t-shirt slogan-type beliefs. Channa Miriam Knuckey Vogeltown