The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Give Faith to owners who genuinely care
I, for one, believe the American pit bull/staffie cross (Faith) should be permanently re-homed with people who genuinely care for the dog.
To have your puppies bagged and drowned so that you have to go and retrieve them is anguish enough. To be asked to go back and live with those same people, to care for them and guard them with your life is incurring further cruelty. How can the dog trust them again?
When are those people likely to cause further anguish to the dog?
How genuine are the previous owners when they say they want Faith back? Genuine means truly, for long term, honestly - not counterfeit.
Let the dog have a fresh start with people who genuinely care for its welfare.
People who bag puppies and drown them are not genuine carers. I cannot understand such an act.
To say they want her back is not being genuine.
A little bit of Faith all round would not go amiss.
(Abridged) ME YOUNG Greerton
'Dead zone' full of life
As suggested by Ann Graeme (Your View, January 7), I looked again at the mudflats on our Katikati estuary machine-cleared of mangroves last winter. I did not find a "dead zone". I found small crabs living there as well as seeing numerous crab or worm holes. Shore and wading birds are grazing on this "dead zone" where none grazed under the mangroves. Hardly a dead zone.
This underlines the fact that what is true for one estuary or harbour is not the case for another.
Mangroves can flourish in most places on our harbour down to about half tide level. But they are unlikely to grow where they are totally exposed to wind and waves. I know this. I helped plant mangroves on the windward side of an eroding point in our estuary, hoping to protect it. They did not survive one winter. Our harbour shoreline managed very well 60 years ago when mangroves were few and far between. It does not need to be ringed with mangroves now.
Over the past 60 or more years human activity has produced silt and nutrients that have encouraged the spread of mangroves across the sand flats of our estuaries. We humans are responsible for this problem; it is our responsibility to try to remedy it.
I am one of many grateful to the BOP Regional Council for taking this small step towards controlling mangrove spread on our harbour.
(Abridged)
ROSALIE SMITH Katikati
Positively beneficial
Can anything be more negative - as Hans Zuur (Your View, January 8) who accuses others of being - than trying to eliminate (mangrove mulching) a plant he does not like? (Hitler tried this approach with the Jews in his concentration camps).
Forest & Bird's view - not negative but positive - with mangroves as with all other indigenous flora and fauna species - has been to point out their ecological values.
This highly adapted plant, able to populate the saline conditions of shallow backwaters, may not suit the appearance and lifestyle values of some of us. However its positive contributions to the health of coastal marine systems should be acknowledged - gathering silt (which our land use activities generate); invaluable nurseries for many fish species; habitat for some bird species; absorption of nutrient enrichment from harbour waters (a positive contribution to the sea lettuce problem); a valuable carbon sink and a buffer against destructive tsunamis (as shown in Sumatra).
There are many instances across the planet where man's activities have greatly altered the living environment previously maintained by highly adapted indigenous species, so that dead or arid zones have resulted.
Until adequate, long-term research (unbiased by local prejudices) has been done - only small scale removal of mangroves for essential harbour access should be undertaken - not the wholesale mulching of large areas.
EDDIE ORSULICH Otumoetai
Stagnant mess
I have seen the clearance carried out by the mangrove mulcher at Waikaraka estuary. It is a horrid, stagnant mess. It confirms my opinion that the exercise was poorly planned, is ecologically destructive and, when the plant material eventually rots, will provide nutrients to exacerbate the growth of sea lettuce in the harbour.
MAVIS TAYLOR Tauranga
Rid us of this weed
Nearly 30 years ago, when I came to live in Welcome Bay, there was sparkling water below our house, people collected shellfish and lights were seen at night on the sea with fisherman catching flounder.
Then one stormy night, when the earth had been churned to establish Waipuna Park next to the walnut grove, a huge flood occurred in the hills pouring down to the sea, taking rocks and debris and half the soil from the newly formed park. This top grade soil filled the river entrance where a few mangroves grew. Over the years this nutrient rich soil has produced vast areas of mangroves.
Concerned groups tried to keep the mangroves in check but wise words from an ecologist, who did not live here, had this stopped and policed.
It has been proved now that birds do not nest in mangroves and fish and shellfish cannot survive in this stinking, creeping weed. I cannot wait for the mangrove removal machine to come to clean up like Te Puna and Whangamata and once again see the bays of Welcome Bay. Thank your Tauranga City Council for saving the bays.
AUDREY KING Welcome Bay
Honesty made my day
At the races recently, about 2pm, I realised I did not have my car keys in my pocket. I went to the Sec Office but no joy there so rang the Minute Man and he duly arrived and unlocked the car.
However, my Mitzee has a "chip" key and so would not start. I was looking at a truck to pick my car up, take it to Mitsubishi in town and get a chip key made, somewhere up to $1500.
I walked back up and as I passed the people checking for booze I again asked about keys. A personable Maori chap said "Hey, yeah, I have some", he walked with me to my car and I knew as soon as I saw them, they were mine.
Apparently I had left them in the driver's door and an honest punter handed them in saying it might make someone's day.
It sure did. They did not leave their name but can contact me. I hope they made more money than me.
MERV STEPHENSON Tauranga
Indecent behaviour
This year, for the first time, I decided to take my children aged 8-14 to the fireworks display at the Mount Beach. I knew the experience would expose them to drunkenness, crowds of people and possible minor acts of disorderly behaviour but decided to turn these experiences into an educational opportunity, and to especially highlight for them, the effects of uncontrolled alcohol.
We looked for a spot to sit down so we could wait for the fireworks display. I was shocked to see two couples, in a well lit area of the beach, in full view of more than 100 people, having sex, with no apparent concern for those around them. My immediate concerns were with my children so I dragged them away from the area as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately there were no police in sight to deal with it immediately.
I was appalled that no one else apart from a young teenage girl was even attempting to do anything about it.
I am appalled by a continuation of passivity in NZ society. I would suggest that the reason NZ has such high rates of irresponsible behaviour including domestic violence, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour, is because as a society we either believe it is acceptable, or we don't want to get involved.
Let's wake up and stop turning a blind eye to such acts of indecency. It is our problem. We need to work together to enforce it as being unacceptable.
(Abridged)
K MOORE Te Puna
TEXT VIEWS
* Thanks 2 kapai's column re half iron man. Had tears rolling down my face laughing. Hope all the ngati whingers enjoyed it 2. Thanks 2 waigirl 2.
* 3mths since election. Cr D Stewart promised 2 reduce parking fee in city. No action yet but mayb still on holiday
* B. O. P. Times page 4 monday 10th re abused girl parents not fit to breed anymore. Sterilize them now. W. C. P.
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