On a road to nowhere
On Wednesday, February 27, Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis announced $8.2 million for projects in the Kaitaia area. Under orders from Provincial Growth Minister Shane Jones, it was disappointing not a cent was considered for our shoddy metal roads. Only recently, Jones allocated several million dollars towards roading in the Kaipara.
Both are fully aware the Far North District Council has been continually bombarded by complaints from genuine hardworking people who pay rates about the condition of rural roads.
One road (Kumi) two weeks ago was so bad, traffic was virtually at a standstill. This is a road where Shane Jones was born. I find it difficult to digest that of the $8.2m where $4.6m will go to the Hec Busby Kupa Waka Centre, three iwi projects will get $250,000, and $257,000 put aside to investigate building a barge in Parengarenga Harbour, that any of this have a major positive effect on progress in the Far North for generations. For instance, the Parengarenga barge will never happen and the accountability of the other projects will end up a worry. So to Jones and Davis, for the majority of people in the Far North, you got your priorities wrong.
Much interest this Saturday will be on the Auckland Warriors’ first game up against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Mt Smart Stadium. Without match-winner Shaun Johnson, the onus will be on young Aussie, Adam Keighran to produce the goods. It will be a make or break match, not only for Keighran, but the whole team. Aussie critics are predicting gloom yet top commentator Andrew Voss believes this side will finish in the top four. Even coach Stephen Kearney is confident he finally has a team that will produce the results. Good stuff, but haven’t we heard all this before?
North Zone rugby over the weekend produced a couple of great games. The Awanui/ Eastern match in particular was a cracker. Controlled really well by referee Robert ‘Bru’ Rush, there were some great tries with Awanui sneaking in 42-38. Eastern looked good in the forwards with their big front row but it was Awanui’s outside backs that did the damage. You give the ball to those flying Fijians and it’s goodbye. I heard there are more coming up. Good to see Panguru travelling to a strong Kaikohe and only going down in a tussle by 21-31. Te Rarawa got their act together and should have toppled Ohaeawai but lost 32-36. But the worry is Kaitaia thumped 73-12 by Moerewa United Kawakawa. Word is the side is very unfit. This is an individual pursuit. If players in their own time don’t commit to getting in shape, then it’s a waste of time playing rugby.
And that’s how Mat sees it.