Another frustration

I get that 2000 people and all sorts of worthy organisations have expressed ‘serious concern’ about Kawakawa’s three bridges. My reply is, show us the data I have asked for. If the facts indicate that it would be helpful to reduce the speed limit there, then I will throw my support right behind the campaign.

But all too often as Northlanders we are subject to the ‘serious concerns’ of noisy (King) minorities — and the rest of us just get to swallow whatever we’re being fed. Matt King should know better. National is the party of personal responsibility and light-touch government; it ill-behoves him to swing in behind such an egregious example of fact-free and zero-evidence nanny statism.

I too have serious concerns. I fear that this campaign will add yet another frustration to the 16km Hautapu Rd to Waiomio Rd stretch, which is already painfully slow going, and which already make drivers impatient and prone to risk-taking. Adding yet another frustration to this deadly mix would be irresponsible, in my view. Especially when no one seems able to point to any real data that show the need for such a move.

As for Mr Francis’ letter, seeking to drown us in irrelevant data is nearly as irresponsible as using shonky data, in my view. It would be relevant if we were all knocking each other off like ninepins on those bridges. But we’re not. Three fatalities since the turn of the century hardly makes this an accident black-spot.

Yet what he is calling for will, in my view, increase driver frustration and impatience, and result in even greater carnage. I hope he, Alice and Matt won’t simply duck for cover when accident figures between Moerewa and Waiomio start to trend upwards after they get what they want.

I suspect I speak for tens of thousands of conscientious Northland drivers when I say, show us the numbers, Matt, Alice and Mr Francis. Convince us with facts. Tell us how many of the accidents on those bridges have been caused by people travelling within the current speed limit and otherwise obeying the law. And explain why my serious concerns are less valid than yours. If you can’t do either of those basic things, then please just leave our speed limit alone. PETER HEATH

Kerikeri planning to pay minimum wage.

My sister is IH, and I remember years ago she worked for the Hutt Valley Disabled Resource Centre. She spent years full of pride at having a paid job, and one of her favourite tasks was packing the earphones for Air NZ.

When Ruth Dyson caused these jobs to be put out into the private sector she was devastated. From that time on we all pretended that her attendance at various day centres was going to “work”.

Getting the minimum wage is not an issue to the intellectually handicapped. Their issue is their pride in working, just like everyone else, and getting paid a token wage as a sign of their worth.

Don’t take that away from them for the sake of some perceived PC nonsense — allow them to continue to enjoy their work with no threat to their WINZ income.

Those disabled who see a slight in their under-par wages should be treated as separate entities and individual cases. MARYELLEN CHANDLER

Tikipunga myself, to make it pay its way.

Why would I do this now, if at the end of it, I will be penalised with a capital gains tax? The return will barely be worth it. Might I be better off to use all my savings enjoying my first real overseas excursion, then return and claim maximum government benefits while on the pension?

For this reason alone, I feel very sad and uncertain about my financial future, and that is one less rental available for a low-income family to inhabit.

BETH HOULBROOKE Deputy Leader

ACT demands on many people doing their best to put food on their table, while those in council demand more and reduce services.

I congratulate Crs Mate Radich, Foy and Hookway, as they speak out on behalf of the ratepayers’ raw deal with the present FNDC.

As a business person of many years I know that at the top of any business, corporate organisation, group etc, strong leadership, openness, responsibility and accountability is their success, as they are run on a wire rope, unlike others that we see fail, operated on a chain with weak links.

Ruining successful councils, governments, businesses, organisations, groups is not about politics and brownie point-scoring. It’s about doing what is in the best interests of all people and communities, making oneself available to all people, and of course listening.

I saw working towards a better future for ourselves and generations to come makes people and their communities happy and proud with the knowledge that they have passed on a better future to their next generation, which can only come about by leadership, and not class distinction of haves and have nots.

Sorry Jim for your ongoing problems of dog attacks. No one should need to face such a horrifying event, and shame on the FNDC that they allow such events to happen, when there are dog regulations within their powers but not forced upon those who defy the laws.

Why one would be in ownership of such dogs leaves me beyond mindset, as it could be them or one of their family that is attacked. Any dog that shows signs of aggression stems from either its breeding or nurturing, so the signs develop at an early age just as with any human or beast.

Sadly, Jim, it’s human nature that has

let you down. Hope you don’t blame dogs, as they can be so loyal and trusting friends in the right hands.

JOHN BASSETT

Diggers’ Valley want to know but tell them what we want them to hear.’ Selective censorship. BRYAN JOHNSON

O¯ mokoroa Information Act request the then Treaty Negotiations Minister, Attorney-General Chris Finlayson, could not supply any evidence that would have supported even one conviction at a rape trial.

Yet by the stroke of Mr Finlayson’s pen the New Zealand taxpayer’s wallet was raided yet again by creative tribalists, plus an official apology was given.

This is not the sort of unsubstantiated myth-history anyone should be teaching our young impressionable school children. GEOFF PARKER

Kamo (5G) a so- called private company — yeah right-yet conveniently controlled and manipulated by the Chinese government.

The duplicitous National Party avoided problems by kowtowing to and selling out to Chinese interests, hence we are being coerced to toe the line, and the pressure will only increase in the future. Cut the umbilical cord and step away now, because other than dairy products, we haven’t benefited one little bit.

Trade is a one-way street, and the relationship costs us money, our integrity and sovereignty. Perceived tourism and immigration financial benefits are a myth.

Foreign Minister Peters clearly lacks the smarts, it’s all way above him. China scorns international condemnation of trade practices, basic human rights breaches, territorial aspirations (Spratly Islands). You don’t need to be a rocket scientist or economic guru to work out what the motives are or how this will end.

Yes, there will be dire economic consequences for New Zealand, but we need to act and take a stand now or go down the vassal/serfdom track in the future. ROB PATERSON

Matapihi