Have your say: Hundertwasser 'debate of the century'

Election Services' Linda Brereton, left, with the very last voter Lorilee Petrie and her daughter Lyla, at the Whangarei District Council.

The recent referendum in Northland showed overwhelming support for Hundertwasser. Here is the latest selection of your letters about this.

Still only 50pc

The Whangarei referendum tells us little that we didn't already know. Half of those who voted in the referendum support the HAC; the other half don't. So far, so Council.

What's interesting is that despite years of selective speak, approximately $2.5 million of Council resources thus far, a number of failed funding attempts and the support of such luminaries ranging from Kevin Roberts to ... well, Kevin Roberts, 50 per cent of those who voted continue to oppose this development. They see it for what it is.

Throughout the last few months, those who have dared to raise concerns about this project - its lack of connection with the Town Basin, its destruction of one of our few remaining heritage civic buildings, the impact on traffic, parking and the ambience and views of the Town Basin, its cost, and so on - have been personally vilified as "trolls", individually threatened with court action, told they were anti-growth and collectively pilloried as "the beige brigade".

I have been one of the "the beige brigade" who has been subjected to this increasingly shrill noise by the 'Prosper Northland' group.

These people have then swept up others into their ranks - including some quite well-meaning people, one of whom told me the other day that they were supporting HAC because it was "free". For goodness sake.

PN will do well to remember that its cause has squeaked through in this referendum thanks to an outdated first past the post voting system, aided and abetted by the introduction of the divide and rule demolition option which helped confuse the issue.

I look forward to continuing to represent the 50 per cent of voters who did not support the HAC option, along with, of course, the silent majority who are so over the HAC shenanigans that they couldn't be bothered voting.

Tricia Cutforth
Councillor, Denby ward

Pull together

After years of to-ing and fro-ing, bickering and belligerence, passion and personal attack, Whangarei's "debate of the century" has run its course with the outcome of the Old Harbour Board Building Referendum.

We have a result and no matter what you think of it, it's a binding result.

There is no point wasting negative energy or holding animosity, the people have all had the opportunity to exercise their democratic right, and the people have spoken! The successful option chosen, the Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Art Centre is the democratic wish of the people. This is democracy doing it's work, it's just how we do things around here.

The decision has been made, no matter where you stand or how you voted, it's time to look at ourselves, to rise above any animosity, ill-will, or feelings of disappointment. Now is the time to put aside any differences of opinion and come together after the final whistle as friends and neighbours, as proud Whangareians. Don't forget, we're all on the same team in this district of ours.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, of course, and there is no disgrace to be of the same opinion still and nonetheless to swing in behind the will of the people and do the utmost to help make the HWMAC the outstanding success it can be.

Now is the chance to act in a grown-up way.

Now is the time with our councillors showing the way, for us all to act in common, to all let bygones be bygones, and to create something for ourselves and generations to come.

Now is the time to pull together with a community spirit that sets an enduring standard. Now that would be something we would all be especially proud of.

Shane Austin
Whangarei

WOW factor

YES YES YES

Congratulations to Yes Whangarei on a brilliant result to build the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei.

Whangarei will now have the WOW factor and a truly unique tourist attraction.

Great result for Whangarei and for the whole of Northland.

The Hundertwasser Art Centre will totally complement Hundertwasser's last genuine work, the Kawakawa Hundertwasser toilets.

I look forward to celebrating the opening

Johnson Davis
Kawakawa

Do a recount

Recount required.

This was not a landslide victory as reported in the Northern Advocate. Only 372 votes separated the for and against. Therefore a recount must be done and only votes by ratepayers be eligible towards the result, anything else would be a miscarriage of justice.

The deliberately engineered referendum by a small group of individuals has already cost the ratepayers mega-bucks and will continue to.

This group are trying to steal little old Kawakawa's thunder with a fake building - shame on them.

I challenge the Whangarei District Council to recount the votes on a ratepayer only eligibility and publish the result.

I won't be holding my breath.

R J Harsant
Kamo