A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Opinion
Regarding the July 15 front-page “Roads ‘horrendous' ”and “Council asks for patience” stories about the state of Tairawhiti roads, there is the usual elephant in the room we are failing to acknowledge: the Climate Crisis.
The destructive damage to our roads caused by extreme rainfall and storm events will get
worse year by year and it will be impossible for our council to stay ahead of the repairs needed.
One thing we can demand of our council is to up its commitment to develop policies and plans that help Tairawhiti reach zero carbon emissions. New Zealanders are among the highest emitters of CO2 in the world. If we don't like what's happening to our roads, we are going to have to make changes to the way we live and travel.
We need to cluster future housing within the city perimeter, with public transport, cycling and walking. We need regenerative farming and agricultural practices that sequester carbon, and to plant extensive native forests.
It's all do-able and will produce safer and more liveable communities.
