My Account
Grinds her gears
I live on Hibiscus Coast Highway Ōrewa and agree with Grant Hannah (HM Letters, November 22). The large house moving trucks grind and gear change by our house overnight while I am trying to sleep. I guess after watching the TV programme Moving Houses the numbers will escalate. Very disruptive and bad for residents’ sleep health.
Susan Jackson, Ōrewa
House move joy
In reply to Grant Hannah’s letter in your local paper (HM November 22), I would like him to think about why there are more houses going through Ōrewa at the moment. My son’s house was one of those that went through Ōrewa on its way to Kawakawa and how exciting it was for his family to be able to watch it as it went through Ōrewa and Hatfields. At that time we never thought we would see it, as the borders were closed. Think about the bigger picture – all of these people have been waiting for months, if not longer, due to Covid restrictions and all the restrictions the house removers had to go through to get these houses over the border. What are a few lost hours of sleep compared to the joy of a new house finally arriving? Those truck drivers had great respect for the road. So what if a few cones get knocked down – how easy are they to put back up! Also Fulton Hogan would have knowledge of the trucks going through Ōrewa and are you sure that the trucking companies do not pay for what they damage? Please be kind – these are really strange times for all of us.
Robyn Higgins, Silverdale (abridged)
Taking the consequences
I am writing to take issue with comments made by Andy Dunn of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board concerning health choices (Viewpoint column, HM November 22) Certainly, as the law stands in New Zealand at the present time, one can choose to be vaccinated against Covid-19, or to refuse to have the vaccination. However, the point that those making the choice to remain unvaccinated refuse to accept is that all choices have consequences, sometimes very unpleasant ones. Choosing to drink large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis, or choosing to smoke tobacco, neither of which are illegal, can lead to very harmful consequences. Andy Dunn comments on hearing distressing stories of staff losing their jobs or in fear of being fired. No-one is having their job taken away from them. They have a choice. Choose to have the vaccination and stay employed, or choose not to have the vaccination and not have a job. That latter choice is not irreversible. Get vaccinated, and get your job back. Simple.
Neville Martin, Ōrewa.
Vaccinations support business
Andy Dunn of the local board is totally free to make his choice regarding the vaccine. I do find it interesting that he is distressed about people losing their jobs. The mandate is only part of that picture. Most businesses are keen to have as many people vaccinated as possible, so they can re-open and get back to work and keep people employed (once the 90 percent threshold was reached). By getting vaccinated you support their efforts and their businesses. Getting vaccinated is a choice we make not only for ourselves – it is for others too.
Gayle Fleming, Ōrewa
No middle ground
Andy Dunn of our local board raises an important issue (Viewpoint, HM November 22) relating to the divisions caused by individuals’ vaccination choices. I am on board with getting the shots, but also agree it’s not for everybody so the mandates make me uncomfortable. The increasingly violent rhetoric from those opposing the government (on many issues, including the vaccine) is what happens when you push people into a corner but their aggression quickly gets people offside and causes more division. It is not an issue where there is much middle ground. But thanks again to Andy, and Hibiscus Matters, for giving it airtime. Threats have been made against journalists – which seems the most misguided and ill informed thing ever. Keep up the good work. You have a great newspaper.
David Anderson, Gulf Harbour
Editor’s note: Thank you. This paper has been on the receiving end of some of that aggressive behaviour. We try to shrug it off. It’s ironic that we’re accused of being controlled and threatened by government – told not to write anything that Jacinda Ardern wouldn’t like. When the only people so far telling us what we should and shouldn’t be publishing is the anti-government lobby.
Bad enough now
Cr Wayne Walker is right – what is being proposed regarding intensification could be a nightmare for this area (HM November 22). However, what is already happening under the Unitary Plan is not exactly ideal either. I was interested to hear Cr Walker say that Council staff currently have “oversight” as to what’s being consented. You have to wonder what they were thinking when large buildings go up close to the boundary without neighbours having any say in the matter. Trees are felled and sunlight and privacy have been lost and with it quality of life. If Council were aware, they did nothing.
Stewart Fraser, Red Beach
