Sign In / Register
Indeed embarrassing
The Rodney Local Board hit a new low with its unsuccessful attempt to remove the word Pākehā and rewrite a 200-year-old partnership (MM May 25)
The word is a gift from Māori, to wear with pride. Which Māori authority did they consult to suggest it is an insult? And why pose multicultural as an either-or choice to being bicultural? We are clearly both.
Preferring Kiwi or New Zealander is fine, but neither term carries the meaning of partnership, which is what Pākehā implies. If board members don’t see Māori as partners, then what do they understand them to be?
Ironically, and to their credit, alongside the report on the fraught debate is a story of the same local board affirming Ngati Manuhiri’s authority on local names.
Our board members are charged with upholding the bicultural partnership that the Mahurangi region has long, and sometimes painfully, developed.
Last week’s debate was indeed what Lisa Whyte called an “embarrassing conversation” on that journey.
John Bluck, Pakiri
Windbag
Thank you for your newspaper’s interesting local news.
Your item on what occupies the time of our Rodney Local Board (‘P’ word identity crisis, MM May 25) is disturbing.
Rodney Local Board member Geoff Upson’s $52,777 of tax-funded allowance should be suspended until he is mature enough to discuss a “p” matter of substance, namely, p(otholes) and (p)arking, instead of wasting time and (our) money on trivial and embarrassing political correctness.
Johan Slabbert, Warkworth
Who painted these?
Warkworth Library is looking for the artist who painted the planter boxes that are outside the library. We would like to give the planter boxes a re-fresh and have some funding available to do this, but would like to check with the artist before we make any changes to the designs. If you can help us in our search for the artist, please email warkworth.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz (attention Katie Mitchell) or pop into the library.
Katie Mitchell, senior library and council services assistant
Canada geese plague
What can be done about the growing population explosion of Canada geese at the northern end of Snells Beach?
The population has jumped from 30 odd two years ago to more than 300 now.
They can lay an average of five eggs per year so we could soon be seeing the population in the thousands.
They have pretty much decimated the seagrass, which is a vital nursery for many of our fish species, including piper, invertebrates which includes crabs, and also feeding grounds for our native wading birds as well as the migratory godwits.
Surely they are also contributing to the pollution of our beach.
Is anyone else concerned about this?
Gwenda Cruickshank, Snells Beach
Auckland Council head of natural environment specialist services Dr Imogen Bassett replied:
“We’re aware that Canada geese are increasing in various places around the region and becoming a concern – including Snells Beach. Next year, Aucklanders will have a chance to have their say on how we should manage them as part of our Regional Pest Management Plan 2030-2040 public consultation.”
