Up sh** creek, with a paddle
On a recent Saturday, friends and I kayaked from Greenhithe, up Lucas Creek to Kell Park, Albany, then beyond to the waterfall near Albany highway.
As we kayaked closer to Albany, past the houses and closer to Kell Park and beyond, the water grew more sludgy, and the oil slicks and scum on top of the water increased, sticking more and more to our kayaks. Also floating in the water, in
Brewery advice
Russell McVeagh simply can’t get it right. Why would the law firm get Lion Breweries to run a course entitled “Alcohol & Me” when there are a number of drug and alcohol education organisations who have been successfully talking to responsible corporates for decades on this subject? Surely even Russell McVeagh’s learned lawyers may consider that Lion Brewery has a vested interest in such a course. Murray Deaker, Takapuna.
Time running out
The Auckland Council, the Government, Emirates Team NZ and others with a finger in the planning pie need to be reminded of the real risk of losing the America’s Cup defence to Europe. Yet another proposal on the location of the village is doing the rounds. We’ve heard but yet to heed the warnings that a further delay to confirming a location, or starting a new planning process, risked a domino effect that could prevent bases being ready for teams arriving a year ahead of the 2020/21 regatta. The time’s over for endless talk and no action. The boats will sail away. Such a situation must never happen.
Let’s stop the dilly-dallying, find the common ground and get on with it. It takes a village to hold the Cup and in our case an America’s Cup Village in Auckland that provides the backdrop for a world class event showcasing world class innovation made by New Zealand. rapidly increasing amounts, was litter and the bodies of animals.
I counted 11 dead ducks, one dead dog, and one dead possum. Litter included plastic bags, netting, meat trays, cut wood, toys, cans, and bottles.
Rubbish was caught in the mangroves and floating to and fro in the creek.
The Thames has a population of millions populating its banks yet Sir Ken Stevens KNZM, chairman, Export NZ National Advisory Board.
Ocean delivery
Users of NZ Post will be greatly encouraged to read the Herald story on Wednesday about Jana and Julien Joy’s message in a bottle being found on a beach in Spain, having been launched by them, into the Whangarei Harbour, eight years ago.
This method of corresponding will likely prove much more reliable, and probably quicker, than the failing NZ Post “service”.
Wal Warehi Britton, Birkenhead.
Police checkpoints
The attitude of the police following the IPCA investigation of their illegal checkpoints is disgusting. The police were wrong, were found to be wrong and are defiant. This is totally unacceptable and heads should roll.
No one was held accountable for the Arthur Allan Thomas or Teina Pora debacles and this gives rise to a feeling of impunity in the police. The police are not above the law and this defiance is what we would expect from the KGB in Moscow.
Neville Cameron, Coromandel.
PM under pressure
Jacinda Ardern has a lot on her plate at the moment. And as pressure mounts to deliver on Labour’s muchvaunted policies on housing, education, poverty and regional
Michelle Hingston
I’m just gonna say you’re all lucky to be even asked. Do you think M¯aori were given a choice when Pakeha came here with their names and started naming everything after boring people who didn’t do much but were privileged into a position of power. At least the M¯aori name actually has a connection to the land. runs cleaner than Lucas Creek.
I have reported this to the Auckland Council, however I feel with its far-reaching effects, this is also a matter for public concern and action. As well as the council, the local residents, companies, organisations, property developers, and visitors to the area need to see that Lucas Creek and its banks become the healthy habitat they once were. development, a delivery of an altogether different category looms ever closer. Surely Ms Ardern will need time and space as she adjusts to her new role as a first-time mother. Labour’s policy is to extend paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks. Why not then set the example to all working mothers and take 26 weeks parental leave herself ?
Someone needs to have a quiet word with the PM, explaining that such a step should not and would not be viewed as a breach of her obligations to the country.
Most reasonably minded New Zealanders would be sympathetic to her need for time out. A senior member of Labour’s front bench should be appointed Acting Prime Minister for a period of 26 weeks, and Ms Ardern should be relieved of her ministerial portfolios for the same period.
Grant Robertson would seem the obvious choice. Ms Ardern would still be available for consultation on important areas involving policy and the like.
The benefits are set out on Labour’s website: giving the child the best possible start, reducing stress on parents, fostering child development and parent-infant attachment.
There is also reference to aligning Labour policy with World Health Organisation recommendations of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age.
What better example could Ms Ardern give to the young mothers of this country?
Philip Smith, Auckland Central.
Michael Mendes
Who is Hamilton? Was he a land grabbing native killing Englishman? You should be asking Tainui what they think, it’s their ancestors’ bones under all that concrete!
Christine Bruce
Oh for God’s sake.We still have families living in terrible conditions and councils are concerned with name changes… I can certainly think of a few things… Come on people . . . priorities !!!!