Road repairs a welcome home delight
It was so pleasing on arriving back in Whangārei last week, after a week away, to find the road repairs on Maunu Road, not only started but completed. As my mother use to say to say to me, “it won’t take you long son, it’s the thinking about it that takes time”. Great work council, keep it up.
F Parker Whangārei
Aviation fuel debacle
The Government made a terrible mistake when they refused to purchase NZs only refinery (despite the discarded petition plea from thousands to MPs) therefore we are totally reliant on imported fuels. The current “bad batch” of aviation fuel due to cause Christmas flight disruptions causes one to wonder about the safety of flying, if indeed one is able to obtain a flight at all?
NZ must work at all levels to be self sufficient in all fields whether it be IT, fuel, food, replacement parts, building supplies, trained workers, etc.
The world is in turmoil and NZers can no longer rely on other nations for supplies.
NZers are innovative and have a DIY culture. We are at the bottom of the world and a tiny nation of people who must fend for themselves. The current fuel debacle just highlights this phenomena.
Marie Kaire
Ngararatunua
Boys’ High spirit missing
I happened to go down Kent Rd during the weekend to take some photos of the demolition of the buildings on the old Whangārei Boys’ High School site. Memories and reminiscences abounded as I reflected on the over 30 years I had spent teaching there.
It was sad to see the eradication of so much history — now just a pile of rubble and twisted metal.
I then ventured to the new site. Some very impressive teaching spaces confront one. However, I was struck by an almost tangible sterility. I could not see any visible link or any attempt of establishing one to preserve the proud traditions on which the school was founded. The Western Hills Drive entrance has a large, metal relief featuring a strange, incongruous upright anchor and a Māori quote.
Where is the huge black anchor and the plaque bearing the names of old boys and staff who perished in WWI? This was a feature of the old site — a vivid and constant reminder to all pupils of the sacrifices of those who had gone before.
One would hope that the present administration is not trying to disassociate itself from the past. Former headmasters Maurie Dean and Al Kirk, in particular, made stringent efforts to impress upon the boys their indebtedness to their forebears.
Tradition is a valuable commodity and should not be frivolously dismissed. One would hope that the new assembly hall is again festooned with the myriad of photos of first teams and prefects dating back to the school’s origin. This was a labour of love and commitment by the late Don Gwilliam, a former teacher and old boy. One would hope that the all important honours board commands the high profile it deserves. These are the quintessential essence of a great school. Its motto — Fideliter (faithfully) — embodies high principles of loyalty and fidelity. They must be adhered to and not be blithely cast aside.
Mike Curran HOD Languages and
Classics 1981-2013.
Karakia ban solution
Re the Kaipara District Council karakia ban. We all need to loosen up and quickly resolve this matter.
Could each councillor be allocated one minute at the commencement of each meeting to express themselves in their own way?
That is to sing a song, recite a poem, read from a book, say a prayer/ blessing/karakia, quote a proverb etc. This should be fun and would get meetings off to a good start with everyone in good humour.
Jo Smith
Kamo Ed’s note: The council has decided that each councillor will have the opportunity on a rotating basis immediately prior to the opening of the ordinary council meeting to recite karakia, make statements of choice and forms of reflection.