Waikato letters to the Editor
Nightmare traffic
I wholeheartedly agree with the article featuring Stephen Packer. The traffic and the roads in Hamilton are a nightmare. Rototuna roundabout is, I think one of the worst... traffic is throttled down, restricting a good traffic flow and the speed bumps and pedestrian crossings so close to the intersection as to be dangerous.
And as for the new layout of bus stops... they are ridiculous.
Katherine Wullems, Hamilton
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Traffic solution?
Why don’t we run a commuter train from The Base to the inland port? Reopen the buried Station under Centre Place. Run them every half hour non peak, no timetable in peak hours so commuters don’t have to rush for a train.
Too simple and obvious I guess?
John Palmer, Hamilton
HCC cash crisis
In 1975 when New York City was in deep financial crisis and just a day away from bankruptcy one of the first things they did was to figure out which services were essential, and which weren’t.
They recognised that meeting existing debt obligations was a first priority. When the Federal Government refused support, the city was forced to make tough choices and significant changes.
Having watched our council debate the long term plan for the city, it seems the seriousness of council’s financial position is not being taken seriously by most councillors. The cuts proposed are way too small and councillors seem hell bent on delaying cuts on the grounds that they don’t know what the effect of any cuts will be.
Over the last six years, council has increased personnel costs by 55% and operating costs by 95%. They now seem surprised that a cash crisis looms.
It seems hiking rates is already entrenched in councillors’ thinking and some councillors are clearly afraid to make the tough choices they were elected to make. The result will be yet more cash shortages, continuing rate hikes and unbalanced books for years to come. Mark Flyger, Hamilton
Controversial project
In response to the article Trying to work out what’s true about a waste-to-energy, March 2,I was very disappointed with what appears to be a one-sided badly researched opinion of a "Waikato man with a farming background". Perhaps he hasn't had the chance to read the resource consent application or some of the many submissions including Fonterra which oppose the application.
To state the worst air pollution it creates is carbon dioxide does not appear to be correct - my understanding of the GCS applications is there will, amongst other "harmful contamination", be dioxins released. International research also highlights other air quality impacts.
For me the most notable submission opposing this is from Fonterra - who are concerned about protecting their $14 billion revenue.
Concerns include potential impacts on food safety, risk of contaminants entering the dairy manufacturing facilities and the subsequent response required by Fonterra to manage the elevated risk, the impact on Fonterra's food safety certification, and the health and safety of staff and contractors who work at the Te Awamutu site.
As part of its overseas operations, Fonterra's experience is that other waste to energy facilities have not established close to its food processing operations. Fonterra, other key organisations, local businesses and residents feel that the way this has been done by the applicant shows blatant disregard for their health and economic wellbeing and that of future generations.
As a "Waikato man with a long association with farming, the dairy industry, construction in Te Awamutu, having raised our children in Te Awamutu and having an interest in the long term health and economic well being of Te Awamutu.” I would welcome the opportunity to discuss our concerns and share some of the facts with Andrew Johnstone.
Eoin Fitzpatrick, Te Awamutu (abridged)
Council cuts
You know elections are coming when a mayor starts claiming they have been making budget cuts. The HCC has and continues to over spend and spend too much. The new theatre disaster echos the V8s, Claudelands and numerous other vanity projects dreamed up by ex and current council staff.
The ratepayers have paid heavily for these. Recent second hand clothing sales competing with the charities, gully restoration, night street dirty flicking and roading projects show the waste has not stopped and this council continues to take advantage of the ratepayers while essential pot holes and water service priorities decline.
If this council was really concerned about budget we would have restored and improved Founders, not started a new white elephant creation scheme via the new very poorly thought through theatre. Why build a new theatre miles from the transport hub, it’s illogical.
Time for a council with vision and courage. Susan F Stevenson, Hamilton
PM transport problems
Quoting Lord Normanby, representing the British Crown to Captain Hobson, back in England, 1839, “we have not been insensible to the importance of New Zealand, … that its geographical position must, in peace or war, … enable it to exercise a paramount influence in that quarter of the globe”. Almost two hundred years later and poor old Aotearoa can't afford reliable transport for its Prime Minister to just leap a ditch. I've been thinking, there must be some form of international assistance, where this cash-strapped sovereignty could receive support, to help us parley in peace or war with our friendly maritime neighbours. Scott Base, Rarotonga, the Chathams, Five Eyes, our oversight is not insignificant. Lord Normanby wasn’t wrong about our paramount influence. Pity about the PM'S missed meetings in this quarter of the globe. If you draw a line on a map directly north from Cape Reinga, you only cross water until you strike Russia.
Rod Hooker, Hamilton
Free speech
Jonathan Ayling’s column, Deciding who deserves free speech at our universities, concisely targets the academic fortress mentality that encourages censorship of dissenting voices.
A few years ago, I attended a presentation on climate change at Waikato University. During question time, a member of the audience asked a perfectly reasonable question. The question went unanswered. Instead, he received a scoffing response from a panel member, who said something to the effect that “The debate is over, we know the answers.” This was a psychological fallacy.
It was reminiscent of Galileo being tried for heresy for daring to suggest that the Earth was on orbit around the Sun.
He was tried by inquisition and placed in house arrest for the rest of his life; and the church leaders did not admit their error for another 359 years. Let us drop entrenched Victorian concepts for freely debated science. Hugh Webb, Hamilton
Where’s the genocide?
My dictionary defines genocide as: “The intentional destruction of a people in whole or in part.” In the current Hamas/israel war I would suggest that the wrong side is being accused of genocidal intent. Since Israel’s ill advised withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, 20,000 Hamas rockets have been fired into Israel – 9,000 since Gaza’s invasion of Israel on Oct 7 – all aimed at Jews because they are Jews.
One of the teenagers who crossed the border on Oct 7 used a victim’s phone to call his mother with the news she had been waiting for; shouting excitedly “I’ve just killed 10 Jews, with my own hands, I will send you pictures”.
As a result of this and other genocidal activity, Israel now finds itself in a difficult position. Embedded in the civilian population of Rafah are four battalions of the Hamas Army who say that if they survive they will repeat Oct 7 time and again until all Jews in Israel are destroyed. They are also still firing rockets from there at Israeli civilians, and Israel needs to stop them. Israel appears to be more concerned about the civilians in Rafah than Hamas is. Israel is trying to get them to move, while Hamas is dissuading and even physically blocking them.
Hamas needs pictures of dead civilians. These along with inflated civilian casualty figures are used to attract foreign aid which is diverted to finance the war they started with their genocidal zeal.
Fred Barrett, Tīrau
Spiritual significance
The sacred month of Ramadan, a time of deep spiritual significance for Muslims, is around the corner. During this month, we engage in fasting from dawn until sunset, but Ramadan is not just confined to fasting. In fact, it is a month of intensified prayer, charity and an increase in gratitude. The month of Ramadan encourages us to shift our focus towards those facing unimaginable hardships worldwide. As we observe our fasts this Ramadan, let us keep in our hearts those less fortunate around the globe. May this awareness ignite a spark within us, inspiring an outpouring of generosity and charity. Asif Munir, Imam & Minister of Religion of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community New Zealand, Hamilton