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Embracing democracy
“You can crucify freedom, but the human soul knows no shackles.” These words, addressed to the soviet socialist elite, accurately describe the absence of fundamental freedoms for people living in the 1970s in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Protest artists Yuly and Oleg, wrote these words on a public building in Leningrad in 1975 and saying this truth contributed to each writer receiving prison terms of over five years in labour camps.
In 2026, as we prepare to vote in our general election, let’s embrace the fact we live in a western democracy. We are not under the autocratic rule of a socialist elite as the USSR was in the 1970s. In Aotearoa New Zealand, our style of democracy gives us the best opportunity of any political system to use our freedom to express our human soul.
Colin Binsted, Matakana
Development contributions
The need to develop two new sets of traffic lights for the existing intersections on Mansel Drive begs the question – who pays for them? The need comes directly from recent housing developments around Warkworth. It is interesting to note that the Warkworth area has some of the lowest development contribution rates set by Auckland Council at just over $20,000. In other areas in Auckland they are commonly around $48,000 to $70,000. It seems that council is happy to see existing ratepayers subsidise infrastructure while developers pay low contribution rates. I would like to see some accountability by the council as to where all this contribution money is going. Perhaps it’s paying for the City Rail Link.
Neil Hatfull, Warkworth
