Sculpture plinth ideal for Cathedral front
I was delighted to see the photo of the sculpture dedicated to the Ukraine war on the plinth at Knox Church (ODT 9.9.23). What a wonderful concept, the authors of which deserve congratulations.
This plinth at Knox Church joins two others in Dunedin which could serve similar purposes. I refer to the plinths on either side of the entrance steps to St Paul’s Cathedral in the Octagon.
These were not part of the original design of the cathedral but were added following the end of World War1 to support a Peace Memorial that had been proposed in 1918.
The memorial did not proceed and when undertaking research for my 2007 book The Heart of a City I could find no drawings or sketches of what had been proposed. It must however have been massive to have deserved two such large support plinths.
What better place for temporary sculptures similar to the proposal at Knox Church? This would give meaning to these two otherwise strange structures that at present do nothing to enhance the appearance of the front of the cathedral. It would add meaning to the plinths and considerable interest to the overall character of the Octagon.
Norman Ledgerwood
Christchurch
Devils and details
Three of National’s election pledges are tax cuts, to grow the economy and lower inflation and to get New Zealand’s emissions to net zero by 2050
As they say, the devil is in the detail. National has pledged to part-fund their tax cuts by allowing - inviting - foreign buyers to buy expensive houses and taxing them as they do so. Foreign buyers were a major contributor to escalating house prices - and therefore inflation - when National were last in government and they will fuel inflation again.
Importing more mega-rich will do nothing for the economy and most of us will get little or nothing from tax cuts. Yet many will be adversely affected by National’s (promised) repeal of Fair Pay Agreements which lift wages for those at the bottom.
Net emissions by 2050? National signed up to this goal but has since voted against every measure to achieve it and a few more besides. Building and selling more mega-mansions won’t achieve net zero. Repealing the new Natural and Built Environments Act will take us backwards.
It’s becoming clearer every day that a vote for National is a vote for those who have to have more while the planet heats and sea levels rise.
Gio Angelo
Belleknowes
Teeth and big bills
Regarding the article on dental cavities (ODT 4.9.23). There was a comment, ‘‘as soon as they turn 18 they face big bills’’
I can explain the big bills. From my first hand experience, children who had diligently visited the dentist all through their early and teenage years were told everything was fine, nothing wrong with their teeth. Then miraculously the minute they turned 18 everything was wrong with their teeth. This would require substantial amounts of money to put right. Along with the dentist all of a sudden putting the fear of god into the poor kids about how bad their teeth were.
Is it any wonder the statistics indicate ‘‘cavities tended to start from the age of 20?’’
Lynette Gernhoefer
Dunedin
A few dollars here, a few dollars there
It is quite amazing just how the cycle trail industry regards the public purse as a bottomless pit of money. The ODT has been littered with articles lately about how wonderful and special these trails are. We are being told how the trails are good for all of us and we just need to accept a few more dollars here, a bit more there. The estimated costs seem to be distorted by various parties including NZTA and DCC. The Caversham tunnel was costed at $28 million a few years ago, but recently DCC says this is now ‘‘only’’ $21 million. Has DCC moved the cost of relocating water and sewage pipes to another account or is this just wrong?
I note the announcement of the Lawrence to Waihola trail. This is lauded as only costing $21 million with an estimated return to the community of $2.5 million per year of economic benefit. So maybe a 10 year payback for that project if the fictitious return rate is achieved and the trail doesn't need any maintenance.
Then we have the Taieri group proposing Dunedin trash the rail line to build another trail from Middlemarch to Outram. They even have the effrontery to suggest the train is unviable because the track needs $10 million of repair, but their cycle way is somehow better value at twice the price. Is it better for Dunedin to dump an international tourist attraction for a piece of a cycle way?
It would be nice for someone to actually test and report the estimate of the current cycle paths around Dunedin. About $100 million has already been spent in Dunedin. If all the projects are added up, including the dream of Dunedin to Waitati, I guess that is at least another $100 million. Just how much can a city of 120,000 people pay for?
Keith McCabe
Sunbury
Homeless approach approved
Great to read that a multi prong approach is being taken to deal with homelessness in Dunedin. We need even bigger thinking though, there needs to be a new and collaborative approach between the DCC, all relevant agencies, and private socially minded investors. Develop a new and bold model that works not only in Dunedin but one that can be replicated throughout the country.
Homelessness is a growing and serious issue and our most vulnerable deserve better than soulless greedy landlords putting profit over people. A new model involving public and private stakeholders can and will deliver a win/win for all concerned.
Meetings and confronting ODT headlines won’t be enough, there needs to be a clear plan, the right people involved, expedited time frames and committed action.
John Le Brun
Fairfield
Irony abounds
Congratulations on your probing expose of Dunedin boarding houses and their residents’ needs. Your latest disclosures (ODT 9.9.23) appeared above a large advertisement. A lifestyle village promoted spacious villas that set ‘‘a new standard of luxury living.’’ The juxtaposition is ironic.
Social security is a hallowed national icon born in Otago.
Its essence was stirringly evoked by one of its architects, Sir Arnold Nordmeyer, also from Otago, in 1938: ‘‘The normal Christian attitude of life of helping those in need, whatever the cause of their need, should be carried on into the community life, enabling the joint resources of the people to be applied for assisting in banishing distress and want ... The greater portion of the distress is entirely preventable by means readily within the power of the community as a whole.’’
May your journalism continue to jolt us all to reclaim Nordy’s vision and realise it for today’s people in ‘‘distress and want.’’
Warwick Brunton
Waldronville
[Abridged]
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
