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Lunches matter
During my years of school visits around Kaipara ki Mahurangi (from Parakai to Wellsford) when the Ka Ora, Ka Ako – Healthy Lunches in Schools programme started up, teachers were consistently saying how much this programme benefited learning and kids’ wellbeing in the classroom.
A study by researchers at the University of Auckland found the programme had brought more nutritious food into schools, reduced hunger, increased physical fitness and mental wellbeing, lessened financial stress on struggling families, and created new jobs.
Study results published today, state “achievement for students in food poverty was up to four years behind their food-secure peers, even after accounting for socio-economic deprivation”.
A programme that makes sure that children are eating more nutritious food and contributes positively to their wellbeing, helps them to learn, and saves families money, is exactly what we should invest in, especially during a cost of living crisis.
I wonder what Chris Penk’s response is? Truly, if he has visited these schools, he will have heard the same feedback. These lunches make a difference in the lives of our kids and local families.
Marja Lubeck, Tomarata (former Labour list MP)
EfW, too good to be true
I agree with Don Sollitt that the Dome is a daft place to site a landfill for many reasons (MM Mar 4).
However, Energy from Waste (EfW) is not the silver bullet that he supposes.
Municipal solid waste is literally a rubbish fuel. To get a waste burning furnace to operate effectively, a high-quality fuel, such as diesel, needs to be added. To deliver energy as high pressure steam for power generation would require more diesel to be added to the furnace.
The generation efficiency of the steam cycle typically used in EfW plants is about half that of a diesel generator. To make electricity, it is more sensible to use a diesel generator than to pour that fuel into an EfW plant.
A major issue with waste burning is the creation of dioxins, etc. Sophisticated systems have to be used to reduce such hazardous emission, but they are very expensive. When a waste burner is made into an EfW plant, the dioxin formation mechanisms are exacerbated.
When waste is landfilled, most of the carbon in that waste remains underground. Only a small part escapes as uncaptured methane.
When waste is burned, all of the carbon is emitted as CO2. Claims of a greenhouse benefit of EfW over landfilling are questionable.
“If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”
Steve Goldthorpe, Warkworth Energy systems analyst
Recycling, not a myth
In response to Ray Eder’s letter (MM Mar 4), let’s set the record straight. I took a minute to read the www.plasticsoupfoundation.org article that Ray summarises “in a nutshell”, as saying that plastic recycling just doesn’t happen. Well, that is only the first sentence. If you read further, it goes on to say, “The suggestion, however, that the issue of plastic pollution can be solved through recycling is a myth.
In reality, only 9% of all plastic in use worldwide is recycled, and the majority of this recycled plastic is of inferior quality.”
Which is markedly different to saying that recycling doesn’t happen at all.
Recycling is certainly not the best solution, but it still plays a critical part in reducing plastic in our environment. New Zealand already recycles more than the world average and we should continually improve our efforts. Keep separating those number 1, 2 and 5 plastics out of your rubbish everyone!
Neil McGarvey, Sandspit
Solar madness
Your article regarding solar panels staggered me (MM Mar 4). The heat that is going to be generated from 260 hectares of these black panels, smacks in the face of global warming. To boot, the heat wave descending upon the township will make it difficult to work in, plus it will cause road surface melting.
Then if they couldn’t be more stupid, they anticipate putting this on fertile land. Of course, then there is the view showing the world’s tourists how to kill a beautiful landscape.
There are plenty of hilltops for windmills out of site that would be a far better solution. Please can we have some common sense?
Sylvia Taylor, Kaipara Flats
Totara lament
I was passing Kowhai Park today and for the first time noticed the totara trees, which have died since the carpark was “upgraded”. It seems a real shame that the trees have been killed off. RIP totara.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot, with a brand new toilet and a camper van stop. (With apologies to Joni Mitchell)
Ray Eder, Warkworth
