Memorials a constant reminder of sacrifices
Lest we forget.
Three simple words that remind us all of the huge sacrifices that those who went to war made in protecting our way of life.
And so we gather in the dawn, largely in front of memorials that were erected to remind us of those sacrifices.
Those memorials usually incorporated the names of those who were killed while fighting for future generations.
They are a constant reminder of their ultimate sacrifice.
But some people don’t think so.
Recently I attended a wonderful reunion of our class of Māori Hill School who left that school in 1958.
We had a great visit to the school, but I, along with others, was deeply shocked and disappointed to find that the impressive stone memorial drinking fountain displaying the names of those from the school who had died in the world wars was gone.
Wiped out of existence.
Apparently some people at the time of the gradual rebuilding of the school decided to "inter" this wonderful memorial into the grounds.
It isn’t clear whether a hole was dug and the memorial buried, or more likely, whether it was smashed up and used for fill.
Either way, this was an act of vandalism and desecration.
I wonder whether those within the Otago Education Board who made this vile decision would reveal whether it was simply buried or smashed, and whether they would now like to contribute to reinstating what should be a visual, constant reminder of the sacrifices made by past members of the school.
Fisheries Act reform
Lisa Futschek, the chief executive of the industry body Seafood New Zealand (ODT, 10.4.25) states that my statement in a previous letter (ODT, 14.4.25) that the proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act will stop the further rollout of cameras on commercial fishing vessels is not correct. She gives as an example that at least 30 more cameras will be rolled out on the inshore fleet between now and the end of the year.
This is good news that that programme is still continuing. It seems we both agree that the use of cameras has improved the quality and accuracy of data on which to make future decisions.
However, the fact of my original point stands. Under the proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act there would be exemptions to the installation of cameras on some smaller boats and a return to reliance on human observers alone on larger boats (MPI, 190.2 Proposed Amendments to the Fisheries Act Consultation Document), essentially stopping their further rollout of cameras.
Resort’s waterfront food, atmosphere impressive
As an international visitor, I was surprised to read the front page of the Otago Daily Times this afternoon (19.4.25) which indicated that the food stalls at Queenstown waterfront are to be ejected in some months’ time.
I visited the waterfront this morning and was very impressed with the range of interesting local food and atmosphere down there and very much enjoyed a snack of lovely local seafood before moving on to have lunch at a restaurant on the wharf.
It seems counter-intuitive to allow officious council bylaws to eradicate such an interesting and lively part of the waterfront.
