Stop negative racial stereotyping
Regarding the article published May 5, “Schools innovate to cope with tough kids”. I take exception to one school being described as a school with a “huge proportion of predominantly Ma¯ ori students and low socio-economic communities”. It is the only one of all four schools to be described according to ethnicity. It is also the only school labelled with the outdated system of decile rating. Without these credentials, a reader might surmise that the other schools are not predominantly Ma¯ ori. If they are predominantly Ma¯ ori, what is the value of mentioning it at all?
And, heaven forbid, if they are not predominantly
Ma¯ ori, would that point to a predominantly non-Ma¯ ori student population as being the problem? Thirdly, this school is the only school where socio-economics status is brought in. We don’t need to be reminded that we are more likely to be poor if we are of a particular ethnicity. I myself grew up believing such false assumptions. As a teacher I use my personal agency to debunk unfair generalisations. Finally, I believe the media has a moral responsibility, whether inferred or more direct, to stop the perpetuation of negative stereotyping based on ethnicity. After all, God gave us human agency. Maria Jackman Kamo
Insulting nature
The Ruaka¯ka¯ Residents and Ratepayers Association were once again ripping out native saplings at the weekend (May 8) from the Ruakaka Wildlife Refuge. The tree saplings were mulched and composted in the Ruakaka (DoC) Camping Ground.
Manawa — native mangroves — have been in New Zealand 19 million years.
The RR&RA are doing this under a Resource Consent from the Northern Regional Council, issued in 2012 and valid until 2032. This consent was given after manawa were illegally cut down in the Ruaka¯ ka¯ Wildlife Refuge in an area adjacent to Princes Rd.
Local residents, iwi, and the two environmental groups, Bream Bay Coastal Care Trust and Northern Forest and Bird, who protect the Ruaka¯ ka¯ Wildlife Refuge, are not happy about this ongoing destruction. When the Northern Conservation Board visited in October 2020, the RR&RA treated TNCB with disrespect and insulting behaviour.
Nature is a finely tuned system, when we upset the balance the consequences can be severe. Robbie Jones Chairperson Northern Forest and Bird One Tree Point
Reducing emissions
Northern Advocate, Electric cars, Wendy Hutchinson, May 13:
To answer Wendy Hutchinson: We need to electrify transport because major economies are pledging to reduce CO2 emissions, and manufacturers have announced the end of internal combustion engines (ICE) in cars. Countries which do not play their part will be punished with high carbon taxes on imports.
EVs are better than ICE cars but not a complete answer. We need much better public transport, safe cycleways and to walk more. The price of EVS is dropping fast but in the meantime there is an subsidy to incentivise purchase — no road tax. Also, burning petrol is going to become very expensive.
EVs are responsible for very little CO2 if the electricity is from renewable sources. In NZ that means we need to install more wind and solar, and storage. Hence the investigation of a pumped-scheme at Lake Onslow. At times of excess electricity water is pumped uphill to be used again.
Batteries that have lost capacity can get a second life in homes to store electricity from solar panels on the roof. After say 20 years they will need to be recycled. A great deal of work is being done to make better batteries and as everyone knows, necessity is the mother of invention.
Dennis N Horne
Howick