Praise for help from river rescuers
While attempting to cross the stream flowing under the Botany Rd bridge, I slipped and finished up battered and bruised, face down semi-submerged in the stream. I was being carried downstream and unable to get out due to the channel’s slippery bottom and sides.
A young lady, having witnessed my fall, came running over and assisted me from the water and then having settled me onto the bank took off downstream to try and recover my track suit jacket which had by then floated off out of sight. She enlisted the aid of two young boys and my jacket was indeed recovered 10 minutes later.
Meanwhile, an older Asian gentleman seeing this wet and bedraggled person on the river bank came across from walking track he was on to ensure I was OK.
I really appreciate the efforts of all four of you and want to sincerely thank you for your caring and help. Although I don’t know who you are, I believe our community is all the richer for having you part of it.
Terry Turner, Botany Downs
ROAD MARKING PROBLEMS
I live in Massey alongside the Lincoln Heights Primary school and have been contacting Auckland transport about the road markings at the junction of Keegan Dr and Waimumu Rd.
Vehicles are often parked close to the junction, obstructing the view of traffic travelling along Waimumu Rd when attempting to exit Keegan Dr.
The typical response I have received from Auckland transport is ‘‘there have been no recorded accidents at this location’’ .
The photograph above was taken from a car at the junction of Keegan Dr and Waimumu Rd about to turn right into Waimumu Rd.
On the right is a pedestrian crossing, which is on the top of the rise in the road.
Another response from Auckland Transport: ‘‘As stated in the Road Code, it is illegal to park within six metres of an intersection and Auckland Transport’s current policy is that we do not install broken yellow lines to indicate this’’.
Contrary to the road marking, all the driveways to properties on Waimumu Rd between Lincoln Park Ave and Hewlett Rd have yellow brokens lines and white parking lines.
Doug Reidy,
Massey
WHAT’S IN A NAME
To answer the question what’s in a name? It would seem to me crucial to present accurate information when publicly discussing something as fundamental as a country’s name change. Therefore may I take this opportunity to correct
some points made by your correspondent John Tamihere in his assessment of the history and gravitas of New Zealand’s name.
It is untrue to claim Europeans changed the name of our country.
At the time of Tasman’s visit Māori did not call New Zealand Aotearoa. Rather this was a name invented by the historian William Pember-Reeves 250 years later.
In naming this newly discovered land Europeans gave themselves, and Māori, a means of identifying an otherwise unnamed country at the same time drawing it into the international community of nations.
Zeeland [Sealand] itself was not the obscure unpopulated backwater its detractors would have us believe.
In fact the Dutch named New Zealand in honour of their hero state.
This status was earned after northern Europe had emerged victorious over Spain in a bitter seventy five year sectarian war fought throughout Germany and the low countries. Spain was at the time the equivalent of a modern super power but after other military setbacks she was eventually defeated at sea by Dutch naval forces led by the Zeelanders .
To add to its historic gravitas
Zeeland declared itself a republic, the first state in Monarchist Europe to do so.
This momentous action was recognised and emulated by the French 100 years later in the revolutionary upheaval which permanently changed Europe’s social and political structure.
In addition in 1813 the Dutch were the sixth country in Europe to abolish the slave trade a full 27 years before New Zealand did so in 1840. At the time of Tasman’s visit, Zeeland, and its tenacious maritime people, were justifiably regarded as an icon of political and social freedom in Europe. Our country was fortunate to inherit its name and the noble connotations it represents.
Brent Morrissey, Te Arai