A natural problem, combating racism, standards
It’s only nature folks
The Taranaki Daily News has a story about residents on Messenger Terrace being concerned about the lake that has been formed on Oakura beach.
One resident has said in the 24 years he has lived here he hasn’t seen it that bad.
How many other residents have contacted the TDN?
I have lived on and off on our property about half a kilometre on the Okato side of the puddle for over 46 years and not seen the puddle this big, but it is just nature.
Apparently there was a large lahar flow that went down the Stony river Okato prior to 2010. Up until then we could see a large boulder in the sand in front of our property.
Sometimes as little as 30-40cm of the top, in winter up to 1.2-1.5m.
Due to the lahar build-up of sand at the mouth of the Stony River the sand build-up on Oakura beach has increased considerably.
We haven't seen the boulder below our place in 10 years.
It’s just nature. No cause for concern and when the NPDC wastes money on having a digger realign the streams it lasts between less than 24 hours to 3-4 days before the streams block up again.
Tony Hutchins, Oakura
Racism to be met with aroha
Racism may be defined as the unfair treatment of, and refusal to recognise the rights, needs, dignity, or value of Māori. Hobson’s Pledge springs to mind. Well my friends that is their cross to bear, not ours.
On April 9 I was at Parliament with the eight iwi of Taranaki for the first reading of the Taranaki Maunga Treaty Settlement bill.
The Hon Paul Goldsmith, Minister of Treaty Settlements, hosted us. During the formalities, I raised the matter of the reintroduction of referendum for council Maori wards.
I told the Minister that in Taranaki we will be guided by the peaceful spirit of Parihaka and the philosophy of Te Raukura, glory to God, peace on Earth, goodwill to all mankind. I said we are going to love our community to bits. We are going to take our aroha far and wide throughout this land.
And we will embrace all those who do not like us as well as all those who do. I asked that he pass this message to his colleague Hon Simeon Brown, Minister for Local Government, with my respects.
We are not afraid. We will meet racism with aroha. We will confront hatred with love. We will bring understanding where there is misunderstanding. And we will work tirelessly to bring peace and unity to this land.
Peter Moeahu, New Plymouth
Standards have slipped
My pet peeve, is bad grammar, poor spelling and sensationalising stories when really they’re just stories, and nothing special.
Stuff doesn’t seem to proof read their headlines, or correct spelling errors. I was taught to spell and make sure our grammar was correct at school, but it doesn’t seem to matter these days. Standards have slipped badly.
Dianne Hopkins, Hāwera
Investigation needed
Could we have some investigation into our current situation with medical practices? ■ Ownership ie shareholders.
■ Their location.
■ Their profits or accounts.
■ Their service responsibilities.
■ How are they subsidised from the public
purse?
■ Do we continue to subsidise with no
doctors?
■ Do they receive a full subsidy with nurses only on duty?
A recent comment made from a reliable source indicated that there is more pressure on profits than community health. This in turn doesn't help with the retention of doctors and staff.
Tony Mcgreal, Waitara
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