EDITOR'S COMMENT: Whangara's message is clear

In this electronic age of ours, it is quite amazing how far words travel.
You might recall that two weeks ago I discussed my family's aborted visit to the seaside village of Whangara.
Well, to my surprise, I received several letters this week from Poverty Bay locals with strong views on the issue.
Now I know our paper is widely read but I didn't realise it was read that far away.
With a little detective work I discovered that the local paper, the Gisborne Herald, republished my column (it would have been nice to have been asked) last Saturday and sought reaction from a Whangara elder.
Ngati Konohi kaumatua Hone Taumaunu said he was saddened by the editorial, which he thought reflected badly on the people of Whangara.
He disputed my finding that Whangara was not welcoming to outsiders.
He suggested I should have come to Whangara, `knock on a door and see what happens'.
Call me simple but when I see signs like Private Road, Do Not Enter, Private Land, Trespassers will be Prosecuted, I get a clear message not to go any further into any house, property or town. The Private Road sign at the entrance to Whangara seemed reasonably straightforward. I struggle to see how I am to knock on a door when I'm not even allowed into the village.
Another Poverty Bay reader Te Hamua Nikora (their letters appear in full below) referred to Whangara as "OUR world because that is exactly what Whangara is... OUR world."
He went on to say: "Did you ever consider how you would feel if I turned up to your house with all my family and just walked in and helped myself".
Slight difference ... I did not want to enter his house, only walk down what I thought might be a public road, just as he can do next time he visits Tauranga.
Another correspondent (who didn't want his comments published) said he had been part of a campaign in Gisborne to ensure public access to places like the beach at Whangara.
He closed his letter with the comment: "There is no sense having a proliferation of KEEP OUT: GO AWAY signs if they mean us to trip over the welcome mat on the way to the beach."
Interestingly, the day after my column appeared in this paper, my wife received a phone from an old tramping friend. He rang to say that he completely identified with my column because the exact same experience had happened to his family on a recent visit.
What I have taken from all of this is that my comments were not appreciated in Whangara but the responses only re-enforce in my mind my original words.
And no, Te Hamua Nikora, there will be no printed apology. Bottom line: Whangara is a part of New Zealand where I am not welcome and that is sad.
ATTENTION all Coronation Street fans. In recent weeks, on Mondays, we have been running a new column supplied to us by TVNZ which previews the week ahead on the most famous of streets.
Being surrounded as I am at the paper by Coro fans, I was told this was something devotees would appreciate.
This week I received a rather terse letter from a reader who is most annoyed by the column.
He threatened to cancel his Monday edition so his week of Coro watching would not be destroyed by the knowledge of what was coming.
A few weeks back another reader raised a similar point. What do you think?
Is the On The Street column a useful addition to our paper, would you rather it be run at the end of the week in case you missed an episode or would you rather see it go completely?
Consider this a readers' referendum and if I get a good response we will take the appropriate action.
Please send me a brief email to editor@bopp.co.nz with your thoughts or a short letter to The Editor, Bay of Plenty Times, Private Bag 12002, Tauranga. I look forward to hearing from you.
ONE thing of which I have no doubt is that the debate over changing the flag is going to be a hot one.
We have received quite a bit of feedback this week on the petition campaign launched last week.
This is an issue that will only be resolved by debate. We need to listen to all points of view, consider them all and then decide on the best way forward.
Good, strong debate has always been healthy and this issue is no different.