Speed reduction on highways not the solution to road deaths
Earlier this week I travelled the Napier Taupo highway where I had a near miss crash caused by an impatient driver. The vehicle was the second of two passing me, there was ample time for the first vehicle but not for the second one.
To avoid what could have been a three vehicle crash I had to pull off to the side of the road and the oncoming vehicle had to do the same.
This is a classic example where the 80k speed limit would not have avoided this near miss. I wonder if LTNZ think that if they lower the speed limit that it would reduce the maintenance bill more than the number of accidents.
You are not going to stop impatient drivers by lowering the speed limit unless you have a lot more patrol cars on that road, and that still may not have much effect as they wouldn’t be patrolling 24/7.
Where should it go?
I have just received the PR brochure for the Hastings District Council’s Long Term Plan, wrapped in a Cellophane-like envelope.
I note on the back cover “This document is wrapped in a recyclable film“. Could somebody from HDC advise in which of the council’s three recycling bins I should dispose of this? Or otherwise where I should drive in my 2.4lt diesel ute to dispose of it responsibly and avoid it going straight to landfill? Michael Rouse
Hastings
More for estuary
In July 2017 the HB Regional Council announced that $14m would be allocated to clean up waterways.
Four waterways in the region were named — Lake Tutira, Lake Whakiki, the Tukituki River, and Ahuriri Estuary.
The costs were spread out over five years and the Ahuriri Estuary would receive $5,717,900 of the funding, more than 40 per cent of the total funding.
The Talking Point article in HB Today, dated April 12, 2021, outlines plans to set aside $10m over the next 10 years for the same estuary.
The writer quotes “We have the chance to protect and enhance the habitat for our precious taonga, the Ahuriri Estuary which has been neglected for too long”. If the writer is honest and a current member of the HB Regional Council why has this neglect been allowed to occur.
Has the $5.7m earmarked less than 4 years ago been fully used, or was it shelved?
Rates were increased 9.88 per cent in 2017 to set up the council’s “environmental kick start fund”.
Ross Angus
Tamumu
My Duke moment
My Duke of Edinburgh moment !! Brought to mind by Roger Moloney’s recollection of that day.
7 Battalion RNZIR were on crowd control during the Royal Walk About on Marine Parade in 1970 .
The Duke spoke with me and asked about my military service at one stage I said “I was on Parade in 1963 when your wife presented the new Regimental Colours.”
Not the way those in the military were expected to refer to Our Queen. I wonder if he told that story to The Queen?
Great memories even if a little embarrassing
Bruce Johnson E.D.
( Major retired)
Every life matters
Congratulations to all the protesters around the country, who lobbied the government to ban live animal shipments. Praise too for the efforts of all the animal welfare groups and every concerned person who urged the government to stop the cruel trade.
Recently, Reuters reported that Spain had euthanised some 2500 cattle which were trapped at sea for two months in nightmarish conditions.
The Karam Allah with 895 cattle aboard left Spain bound for Turkey in
December but was denied entry with Turkish authorities fearing the animals had bovine bluetongue virus. Other countries refused the ship entry even to replenish food supplies and the animals had only water for several days. 100 cows died on the ship and were thrown overboard while the surviving but suffering animals were euthanised on arrival back in Spain.
Following this, Spain euthanised a further 1610 cattle that had been stuck on the Elbeik livestock ship since December, after ruling them both unfit for further travel or importation into the EU. 179 had died on board.
These are only two examples of the horrific conditions endured and deaths suffered by sentient animals because of man’s pursuit of the almighty dollar.
TVNZ reported that 109,921 cows were shipped to China last year alone.
Now the battle is on to get the unethical trade stopped much sooner than the two year phase-out proposed. Every life matters.