We desperately need a space for our musicians

THE idea of opening a midsized theatre in Dunedin has not originated from a large enough consensus of artists and musicians living in this city.

If this theatre also had muchneeded spaces for people to practise music at a reasonable rented price and at any volume they require, musicians like myself would be all for it.

Musicians are living in a city that makes it incredibly hard to work at their craft due to noise level prosecution, and the lack of practice spaces supported by the Dunedin City Council and other financial beneficiaries/property owners.

From my experience, Dunedin has been suffocating its music scene yet ironically boasting how proud it is of its musical history for years now.

Let’s nurture our artists so they get a chance at performing at a midlevel theatre by opening a creative space building.

The collective studio space The Attic was a great example of how much productivity can be achieved when there is a space to do it in.

Imagine what could be achieved with a space that is also supported by the DCC. Tom Garden

Musselburgh

Maori seats

I SEE that the Invercargill City Council envisages creating mana whenua seats with voting rights on council standing committees (ODT, 11.5.21) .

Citizens with Maori ancestry already enjoy the same rights of representation on council committees as everyone else, so this proposal involves double representation on grounds of ethnicity.

Waihopai Runaka kaumatua

Michael Skerret advises that ‘‘at least two positions’’ will be needed on the grounds that there are two marae in the Invercargill area. So not only will there be double representation; it will also be calculated on a basis that is different from the representation of everyone else.

And Mr Skerret is not finished. He wants double representation via two seats ‘‘just for a start’’.

Last month, we again honoured those who have fought and died in the defence of our democracy. Now we look on as that democracy unravels before our very eyes. John Bell

Forbury

Lake Onslow

RUSSELL Read (Letters, 7.5.21) is right on the money, all $30 million of it.

The economics of the Lake Onslow pump storage scheme are probably no better than the Clyde Dam, which was sold off for a fraction of its cost and with the only major benefit being the recreational facility of Lake Dunstan.

A more reliable and cheaper power supply may be achieved with an oversupply of renewable energy and any storage placed at the point of demand perhaps using modern batteries. Jim Finnie

Mosgiel

News cut

LIKE many others, I was appalled at the decision Discovery and Newshub have made to axe their Dunedinbased team.

Both Dave and Grant are consummate professionals who care deeply about Dunedin, the South and journalism.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Dave since I was at Otago University and you couldn’t have found a more passionate advocate for our place.

One need only look at the quality of the coverage Dave and Grant presented on the senseless attack at Countdown last week to know the value they provide. One News paled severely in comparison. It’s times like this where their presence is felt the most.

The South needs journalists like Dave and Grant to cover our stories, to raise our issues and to be our voice.

Journalism is worse off without Newshub’s presence, and I can only hope someone sees sense and reinstates their team at a later stage. Liam Kernaghan

Maori Hill