Mothballed gallery treasure
Richard Owen (June 2) wonders why $15 million is being spent to build another art gallery when the Robert McDougall Gallery in the Botanic Gardens is crying out for restoration.
It doesn’t need to be restored as it was the only heritage building in the city not damaged at all in the earthquakes.
It could be re-opened to the public now but the City Council will not do this until it is strengthened to the new building code. This is estimated to cost $ 12.7 m and is not scheduled in its Long Term Plan until 2021 to 2024. As a result it is unlikely to re-open until 2025 when it will have been virtually unused since 2002 – namely for 23 years!
Why have successive Councils treated this beautiful building and its donor with such disrespect?
I ask people concerned about this to please contact their local councillor. In his Saturday column, Martin van Beynen asked, ‘‘where, for instance, were the scientists and academics asking some tough questions?’’
Scientists in full employment were keen to stay employed, while other scientists attempting to point out the various popular scares were, and continue to be, stonewalled by the politicians and their ‘‘advisers’’ who are, of course, scientists in full employment.
Half a millenium ago, if you sinned you would die, with or without state assistance, and go to hell; only the clergy could help you avoid this. Today, it seems that if you inhale methamphetamine residues or outdoor air or the odd asbestos fibre you will die and the politicians are the only people who can protect you by introducing all kinds of restrictive regulations often causing more harm than good.
Hopefully the present officially-exposed example of pointless squandering of taxpayers’ funds will open a can of worms about similar politically correct blunders in the guise of protecting public health. I recently went to the Anne Frank exhibition, ‘‘Let me be myself’’, at the Auckland Museum. It was a vividly illustrated human story about the young Anne Frank, an Austrian teenager living with her family, who were helped to hide from the invading forces by neighbours and friends, with her feelings and fears day by day recorded in her diary.
It is a shame that you only published a mention of this well hidden at the bottom of a story about Adolf Eichmann (June 2). The exhibition will be showing at the Wigram Air Force Museum from July 29-September 22.
This exhibition about people living a normal family life whose life was destroyed by the invading forces is as relevant today as it was in the 1940s. Everyone should see it.
I went with my teenage grandsons and it made an impact without me making any comment at all. Do not miss this vivid first hand history. David Broome (May 29) is correct that the American P-8A Poseidon is completely over the top for NZ. However the C-130J Hercules is not really a viable alternative either.
Maybe it is time to think outside the square and get rid of our prejudices. The Japanese have a purpose built aircraft quite suitable for NZ needs. It is the Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.
Because the design is not based on an airliner its aerodynamic profile is more suited for low speed and low altitude flight. Its four highbypass engines are notable for their fuel-efficiency, quietness and lower costs in a maritime environment.
Operational and military characteristics are similar to or better than the P-8A. Earlier pricing indicates the P-1 runs about US$140 million fully outfitted compared to the P-8 at about US$250m.
It is not what is best for our allies, but what is best for New Zealand.
I hope the defence forces are looking and comparing. Money is short and it needs to be well spent.