Transparency needed over mayor’s China interests

Last year the Nelson Mail featured an article about Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio’s business interests in China. The article raised a question as to whether the mayor had taken advantage of his position as mayor for private benefit.

I need to immediately say that the mayor denies that this is so, and says he has independent legal advice that there has been no conflict of interest.

The mayor has arranged for the council’s chief executive to refer the matter to the auditor-general.

The matter is one of significant public interest. It is important that the right questions are asked, and that there be no element of secrecy. I was therefore surprised when, in response to my request for a copy of what had been sent to the auditor-general, I was told by the chief executive that I could not have it, because that might be ‘‘prejudicial to the fair administration of the law’’. Quite how that could be so is beyond me.

My request to the chief executive to reconsider met a similar fate. I was told that there was no secrecy. Rather, ‘‘it is a question of timing’’. Quite what that means is also beyond me.

Hopefully, intervention by the Ombudsman will ensure openness and transparency. KEN BECKETT Nelson, January 23.

No alternatives

You published a letter by Dan Dolejs ( Mailbox, January 22), who denies that ‘‘resources are finite’’ and says that ‘‘the world is not overpopulated’’. He invites me to ‘‘name just one resource mankind cannot live without, where some alternative has not been found’’.

I’ll give him two: food and water. Let him go to the dry Sahel, in Africa, and try the alternatives.

Hundreds of millions of people face these resource shortages, and find the ‘‘alternatives’’ of sand and wood a painful path to death. Mr Dolejs should witness that path before he again displays how little he knows. ADRIAN FAULKNER Nelson, January 23.

Wineries and birds

In response to the article ‘‘Wineries and stoats also bird killers’’ ( Nelson Mail, January 23), I would like to respond to Rose Boulton regarding her comments about wineries being bird killers.

First, I would like to point out that native birds are not a pest that wineries have any concerns about, because they do not eat grapes.

In fact, we try to encourage the native falcon, as these beautiful birds help us scare away the pest birds like starlings and blackbirds.

We do, however, net our vineyards at some considerable cost, to keep pest birds away from our crops. These are the same crops that bring tens of millions of dollars in to the local economy.

Wineries and stoats should not be in the same sentence. RICHARD FLATMAN Chairman, Nelson Winegrowers, Nelson, January 24.

Wonderful care

I recently had cause to spend several nights in the medical unit at Nelson Hospital. I wish to thank every person who contributed to my care and recovery.

Nelson is privileged to have such a wonderful unit, run by such a compassionate, professional, skilled and humble group of doctors, nurses, aides, assistants and administrators.

Thank you. CHRISTINE WHEATLEY Tahunanui, January 23.

Politicians on Ice

I’m puzzled as to why Janice Gill ( Mailbox, January 22), should feel affronted at John Key returning the bottles of whisky removed from Shackleton’s hut.

I don’t recall Janice in any way bewailing either the enormous cost or the effort expended so Helen Clark could stand on the South Pole.

But then, the average Labour supporter is almost genetically compelled to subscribe to, and believe, such ridiculously slanted views. JIM CABLE Nelson, January 23.

Wrong bay

‘‘Hansen takes holiday break in Golden Bay’’ was the headline on the back page of the Nelson Mail on Wednesday, January 23. Reading further, we find that he has been staying at Little Kaiteriteri in Tasman Bay.

I can almost excuse the ignorance of sports writer Wayne Martin, as he probably lives in Auckland, and we all know how they struggle at any geography south of the Bombay Hills.

But the editor or sub-editor of the Nelson Mail responsible for the sports page cannot be forgiven for such woeful ignorance about local geography.

Shame on the Nelson Mail. BRUCE REID Motueka, January 23.

Cats v dogs

It has been asked why cats do not have the controls placed on them that dogs have.

First, I have yet to read of a child being savaged by a cat.

Second, cats are territorial. They can and should be kept inside at night, but they have to be free to roam their territory during the day. Otherwise, they can become neurotic, as I discovered when sharing a second-floor apartment with a stressed burmese.

Lastly, pet owners who don’t get their pets microchipped are plainly negligent.

My real concern with Gareth Mor- gan’s ailurophobia-fuelled rantings ( Nelson Mail, January 23) is that various nutters will take them as justification for their murderous hatred of cats.

We have some of those nutters here in Nelson now.

But the truly astonishing thing is that with our economy on the razor’s edge and most government agencies gutted almost to the point of dysfunction, plus doom and gloom everywhere, we have the media having palpitations over the fanatical ravings of a man who is too rich, too bored and plainly far too understimulated to find something constructive to do with his time.

Hopefully, Gareth will get bored with the birds and bees and return to riding his bike in strange countries far, far away. Please make it soon. LOU GIRARDIN Stoke, January 24.

Better at caring

Last night on the news, the prime minister defended the minister of education, challenging people to name a more caring person.

Of course, we don’t know if anyone did, but how about the staff at Salisbury School? They even fundraised to pay for their legal challenge against the school’s closure. The court ruled in their favour, saying the so-called ‘‘caring’’ minister’s actions would be putting the girls in danger.

What about all the teachers affected by Novopay? They had holidays, mortgages, etc, disrupted, but when the school year starts, they will front up regardless.

I would imagine the minister has no pay worries. FRANK WELLS Stoke, January 25.

Not just locals

Regarding your Nelson Saturday Market article on January 22, I would like to comment on a remark attributed to me in this article and in last night’s editorial. I do not recall saying ‘‘the general rule was that ‘only’ Nelson goods and produce could be sold at the market’’. This is obviously not correct.

Golden Bay, Marlborough and the West Coast are well represented and we also have stalls selling products produced elsewhere in New Zealand.

Nelson crafts, products and produce are indeed the key focus for the Nelson Saturday Market, but this does not exclude stalls from the wider region or the rest of New Zealand. MARILYN JENKS Spokeswoman The Nelson Market Ltd, Nelson, January 24.