Tantamount to treason

New and existing city councillors sitting on the so-called ‘‘Justin Lester Memorial Committee’’ need to wake up and understand that petty political differences at this stage of our city’s future are tantamount to treason (Divisions go from bad to worse, April 18).

Wellington will shortly lose dozens of its much-loved cafes and restaurants that have become the heart and soul of the city and which no amount of ‘‘contactless’’ delivery will ever replace.

When this happens and the rates from the business community tumble and nobody visits any more, no amount of angst about anything other than basic services will matter.

I would urge councillors who genuinely feel for their city to work together for its future. And to those who are only there to further their own ambitions, get another job.

Janet Weir, Melrose

Reading about the lack of support for Andy Foster is unbelievable.

For example, extending free parking for up to six months – a great idea but the majority of councillors voted against it.

Bringing forward the construction of an extra Mt Victoria tunnel – another great idea, and another example opposed.

We either need a system where the mayor has a larger sway in the votes, ie 50 per cent, or the mayor has a bigger vote in selection of who can be council members.

If this was the case, the mayor’s decisions would have more decisiveness, and there would be less disharmony in the council.

Past mayors, and councils, have made some shocking decisions – eg allowing the PwC building to be built on the waterfront, not only on reclaimed land but blocking out magnificent views of our harbour.

Cutting down CBD parking in the streets is bad for retailers and shoppers. Also, trying to push cars into parking buildings was a disaster – all are closed during earthquakes.

This city council system needs an upgrade, sooner rather than later.

Mark Humphries, Waikanae

The letter headed Stop the dispersal of collection (April 16) foregrounded the National Library’s de-accessioning of books deemed no longer relevant. This policy decision favours New Zealand publications.

Your correspondent helpfully refers to books as part of our ‘‘community of memory’’. While New Zealand publications may open minds, scholarship is global. Our first newspaper stories show how much we wanted to leap out of banal provincialism.

As your readers are aware, Papers Past is celebrated for its rich archive of New Zealand’s historic regional newspapers. A distinctive section is Nga¯ Niupepa (Ma¯ ori newspapers), published in te reo Ma¯ ori. Contemporary iwi researchers use te reo Ma¯ ori newspapers as valuable source material.

One striking aspect of Nga¯ Niupepa is how often iwi correspondents ask for stories about the unexplored, the puzzling and ‘‘new’’, such as the Egyptian pyramids, the Napoleonic wars, the Russian tsars and so on. Tupuna write in letters to editors , ‘‘your news is about what we already know. I like reading about other countries’’.

The National Library’s decision to focus its collections on this country is mistaken because New Zealand citizens value our broad, challenging and diverse intellectual heritage. We not only need to grow our own publications, but we also must value our past.

Anne Phillips, Thorndon

Instead of cutting 30 per cent of the staff at Wellington International Airport Ltd (April 17) perhaps some of the staff could be employed in the international terminal to build an alternative corridor from security to the gates so that those who wish can go directly to the gate rather than be herded like sheep through the duty-free shopping area.

While I have no issues with people who wish to shop, many people want to avoid the high prices and pseudo glamour of these areas and get to the appropriate gate. This would set an example for other airports in New Zealand , and be a point of difference for the capital.

Geoffrey Horne, Roseneath

Dog owners who let their dogs perform their ablutions on footpaths or parks are to be roundly chastised. However, the dimwits who rightfully use a nice green bag and leave it close by are worse.

A dog’s oopley-dooplies will be taken care of by nature in a few days. A green bad of dog turds will fester for a very long period.

My labrador knows the rules and I do a lawn tidy most days while she watches. Rod Page, Island Bay

We refer to Poll on city’s sewage dump (April 15) – $5000 spent on a survey for 200 people? What a waste of ratepayer money by Wellington Water, which prides itself as a customer-focused organisation. How has this contractor ended up with so much power to spend so flippantly?

If Wellington Water had its way and pursued the idea of dumping semi-treated sewage 2km from Lyall Bay, the homes of those residents, now affected by high seas, would also be grappling with polluted sludge and their health, given overseas research is showing that Covid-19 is highly prevalent in sewage.

Marie Wright, Titahi Bay

One reason people are on their mobiles (To the Point, April 18) is because they are very kindly doing the shopping I would rather be doing, and that they would rather not be doing, for me. They do have a list, but require a little more direction than I was able to provide on it. Rosemary Fineman, Lyall Bay