Mt Iron decision well motivated but inane
Queenstown Lakes District Council’s decision to close Mt Iron Recreation Reserve is undoubtedly well motivated. But it will save no one and no house, while certainly diminishing both residents’ and visitors’ ability to enjoy Wānaka now and in the long run.
The decision is not rational. It will not meaningfully lower the ignition risk of a fire at Mt Iron, by far the largest sources of which must be neighbours mowing lawns, BBQing or lighting fireworks. Meanwhile the council appears to have made no meaningful effort in those areas.
Second, if the decision is about protecting visiting walkers from a rapidly spreading fire, it is inconsistent. Why are the many other similarly dry reserves in the area open? Close Albert Town campground?
And why does the council choose not to protect visitors from other hazards? Close any reserve adjoining the lake on any inclement day for drowning hazard? Close Ely Point for drowning and fire hazard?
If this decision is sound then everything should be shut for much of summer, which is nonsense. If the council was sincere it would also enforce its ban, which it doesn’t.
This will do very little to protect people and property from fire.
No-one wants loss of life or property from a fire on Mt Iron. A more constructive approach to fire issues would be to employ a young person to sit under an umbrella at the gate and give reminders — like used to happen.
[Abridged — length. Editor.]
Academic opportunities
If I may quote the Prime Minister on the subject of potential funding cuts for universities: "There's an opportunity for academics in particular, who do pretty phenomenal research to make sure their patents get commercialised."
One would hesitate to call these words idiotic because they don't even reach that threshold. It is rather unclear what he thinks goes on in universities, but certainly isn't anything like the effort academics put in to teach, research and develop their disciplines in order that society might grow (now there's a word) and realise its potential in the long term.
I must have a look — I'm sure I had a patent somewhere, but I seem to have lost it.
Mining is great
Tony Williams’ emotional diatribe against gold mining in Central Otago (Letters ODT 25.2.25) is full of exaggerations, distortions and hypocrisy.
Apparently he is happy enough to use the products of mining every minute of the day provided they come from somewhere else. For example – the appliances, glasses, crockery, cutlery, bricks, mortar, nails, screws, paint, wiring and tools in his house, his cellphone and computer and, of course, his bicycle and car.
His describing the "primary function of multi-national corporate structure is to avoid taxation" is nonsense and he has no idea about all the jobs – direct and indirect – that a mining operation provides. Modern mining requires tailings dams and rock dumps to be rehabilitated so that vegetation can grow back and to state that "mining will destroy Otago as a tourist destination" is absurd.
In fact the opposite will be true. Many tourists will want to visit the gold mine and find out where their prized jewellery comes from. I hope Mr Williams will educate himself and arrange a visit to the Macraes gold mine just up the road to learn a little about how the world actually works.
Gagging on dead rats and MP’s offensiveness
I am glad my cat presented me with a dead rat; I was able to preserve it until just before I spoke to a parliamentary select committee on the Social Security Amendment Bill, when I swallowed it so I could get through my encounter with the politicians.
After my five-minute speaking slot expired, I listened to other submitters and was thrilled to hear Act New Zealand MP Simon Court tell us all that poor women should buy cheap menstrual cups from bargain basement supermarkets rather than ask the state for financial assistance. Mr Court opined that this was a matter of "personal responsibility" on the part of women unable to afford menstrual products and was necessary because of the need to conserve taxpayers’ money.
I have no doubt Mr Court meant every word he said and was oblivious to its offensiveness. I also have no doubt that his colleagues in the three coalition parties that have the numbers in Parliament to pass the Bill agree with him, even if they lack the intestinal fortitude to say so in public. I am perplexed why so many women vote for Act, National and New Zealand First.
Winnowing out electoral wheat from the chaff
Elections are this year and we are hearing much more from those who want to hold on to their positions.
Thank you ODT for publishing letters, from present councillors, and also reports following council meetings.
In preparation for these elections, all voters should read these publications carefully and also do some research and record how each councillor behaves and /or votes.
I have studied these publications extensively and taken note of the decisions made by the present and past councillors and I already know how I will vote in the upcoming elections. Both the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council need people with ability, experience and skills in one of the necessary areas of business, finance, trades, agriculture, law, planning and management.
Each must be willing to share his/her individual skills, show respect at all times, work in a co-operative way and become part of a progressive team. I certainly won’t be voting for those who appear to be always right or those who endeavour to take others down — some even making formal complaints against other members of their own teams.
Seven present DCC councillors and seven ORC councillors (now six) will definitely not get my vote.
Absolute rubbish
As our rates increase at an alarming rate, I read in the ODT of another $200,000-odd of our money being squandered on investigations into alleged misdemeanours by council staff. Many years’ worth of my rates. When will this absolute rubbish end?
We have had the parking ticket debacle, the racial slur debacle, and various others I've long since forgotten, all sucking at our council funds. These people need to get over themselves, sit around at the end of their "working" week and have a drink and a laugh and stop wasting our money on building up their already inflated egos. This money is not theirs to waste.
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