Joy in the hills music to the ears
The Port Hills were alive with the sounds of happy people on Sunday. The tracks were full of walkers, runners and cyclists, all exercising with enthusiasm. The dogs were trying to keep up too.
The Sign of the Kiwi was full of customers, all hoping for a drink and a bite to eat and to relax and enjoy the stunning view.
Victoria Park was full of families out for a stroll and a leisurely picnic lunch.
It was great to see Cantabrians enjoying the fresh air.
In spite of being surrounded by negativity, Cantabrians were out there showing there are many good things to rejoice. Anne Offwood, Styx Mill
Virtual meets reality
From the crowd at AMI Stadium on Saturday night, perhaps 50 per cent capacity, the Crusaders have no hope of paying for the reality stadium.
Why do we even need to waste more money on a virtual stadium when Dunedin has a reality stadium.
We know it was built; designed by recognised experts, we know it works, the plans are readily available and we know the cost. Why can’t we just build a mark two model?
Our council wants to build a $500 million stadium – just over twice the funds available – and we know from the council’s record on the town hall that they don’t keep to budgets, so we will probably get a total cost of $600m.
The ratepayers won’t continue to accept this sort of spending.
Colin Eaton, Redwood
ECan representation
The Canterbury regional council has failed to properly protect rivers and drinking water supplies because the council has been controlled by rural interests.
From 1991 to 2007, farmers arranged it so that rural votes were worth up to three times what urban votes were worth. When it looked like rural control of the council would be lost at the 2010 election, the councillors were replaced with commissioners.
The regional council (ECan) has now put out a representation proposal, with submissions required by the end of July.
Farmers and rural district councils are once again opposing fair representation and they may get their way.
Those who are concerned about the increasing contamination of rivers and drinking water supplies need to act quickly and put in a submission this week supporting the principle that every councillor should represent a similar number of people.
Grant Nelson, Upper Riccarton
Right to free speech
Your headline for columnist Glenn McConnell (July 19) says free speech can include telling others to shut up. Yet it doesn’t include the power to shut them up if they ignore that demand.
McConnell implies that people saying nothing ‘‘helpful’’ should be denied speaking rights.
Yet these ‘‘alt-right’’ commentators are espousing a viewpoint that fellow conservatives have the right to hear.
McConnell says these arguments ‘‘concrete the status quo’’. Yet it is really progressive viewpoints like his that define the new status quo. Budding columnists with traditional views cannot a get a foot in the door of the mainstream media, so they are forced to the fringes.
Disturbingly, conservative Kiwis must balance two conflicting views on issues like race and gender, especially if they hold a government job: the publicly acceptable, progressive view they mouth at work, and their actual view, which they share with their mates over a coffee.
Peter Joyce, Nelson
Compulsory hats?
I’ve thought of an alternative to compulsory bells on cycles, to deal with pedestrians blocking the shared paths in Hagley Park:
Compulsory hats on pedestrians, with rear view mirrors. This would get around the hit and miss reaction from pedestrians, to a cyclist’s bell.
However, walkers would have to monitor their mirrors on a regular basis, which may be onerous for them.
Nick Summerhayes, St Albans