OVER TO YOU
Historical apathy
New Zealanders are often more likely to listen to feedback from strangers and celebrities than locals. Karl Du Fresne (TDN, November 30) is not a celebrity nor a stranger. However, he’s a respected former Fairfax editor, and his criticism about a lack of signage and promotion for Parihaka and Te Ngutu o te Manu is spot on. As an avid reader of NZ historian James Bellich I am very aware of the exciting cultural tourism potential in Taranaki. And this exciting possibility was canvassed eloquently when Puke Ariki opened in 2003.
Du Fresne is right, Australia and America would be all over Taranaki’s history - celebrating its stories to bolster tourism. And yes, we have the equivalent of Custer’s Last Stand and Ned Kelly. So why are we so slack? Maybe our apathy is due to conservative rural modesty. We just don’t have the flair for marketing-except for rugby and triumphs of the All Blacks and the Port Taranaki Bulls. It would be sad if we were still in denial about the (reality and) seriousness of the New Zealand Wars. Fortunately historical truthfulness and cultural tourism go hand in hand. Proof of this is Nigel Ogle’s award winning Tawhiti Museum. Bryan Vickery
New Plymouth
A unique peace
Karl Du Fresne’s article about New Zealanders not being very good at celebrating our unique and turbulent history reminds me of two events that did just that. Ngaruahine iwi held their treaty settlement signing with the Crown at Te Ngutu o Te Manu. It was a fabulous occasion with the iwi bedecked in all its glory and joined by Crown and local government officials to commemorate the past and celebrate the present. The signing of the Parihaka settlement with the Crown earlier this year was another moving ceremony that commemorated the past and celebrated the present. What makes us unique is from our turbulent past we have found a peaceful way to build a nation. Peter Moeahu
New Plymouth
Top service
On Friday, December 1, I suffered a medical event which required a trip to Hawera Hospital in an ambulance, and medical intervention to deal with the problem I had. From the phone call to 111, to the awesome ambulance ladies, Lorraine and Kathy, the ED staff on duty - Dr Alex and several lovely nurses, thank you so much. The attention I received was second to none, and I have only grateful thanks for the way I was looked after. I had a secondary ‘event’ while I was in ‘resuss’ which was unexpected, but was dealt with quickly and professionally. I returned home later on Friday, a bit worse for wear, but very appreciative of the way I was cared for. So often, negative comments are made about services in emergency departments, and felt I needed to share my very positive experience. We are so fortunate to have this emergency medical service available to the residents of South Taranaki. Again, thank you to all involved in my care.
Susan Pollock
Hawera
Modernising money
If Sir William Gallagher researched the banking and monetary system as good as he researched the Treaty, then he would find the system is more about extraction than reparations. Government consistently increases the national debt paying reparations on Treaty claims that allows the banking system to extract interest from the taxes of the productive economy. Since the establishment of the RBNZ in 1934 until now, the amount of interest paid to banks by our taxes on government debt collectively for 83 years would have easily negated poverty, housing shortages and Treaty settlements if the money had been ‘‘created’’ and spent into the economy debt-free (without interest). Don Brash not only champions ‘‘One Treaty One Nation’’ but also champions the banking system. John Key and Bill English are of the same ilk but favoured the banks in a different way. They expanded NZ’s debt exponentially as part of the 2008/09 bank bailout when no sub-prime lending was reported in NZ before
2008. If Jacinda Ardern wants to solve poverty and inequality, a
71,000 house shortage and settle once and for good any outstanding Treaty claims then her government will have to change the system. Allowing the ‘‘central bank experts’’ to reform monetary policy by March 2018 so the banking system can still extract interest from the taxes on the economy won’t change a thing. Modernise money, modernise taxation and improve our politics. Steve Laurence
Egmont Village