Letter to the Editor Tuesday January 28, 2014

A Kiwi thing

In response to anger of beach campers, in the Age dated January 23.

I cannot understand why people are getting angry over such a small thing. Camping is a Kiwi thing, and Christmas time is a time of giving. So when these campers come to the Far North, funny, they need food, oh they need fuel and gas, oh they all go fishing too, so they need hooks, sinkers and bait. So this means they are spending money in the Far North, which helps the community to improve.

Is that not more important than bitching about somebody camping on a reserve that is meant to be there for everyone to use and enjoy, including campers?

I would like to see where the council reserve start and ends. Also where DOC land start and ends, as we are under the understanding that the fence line that was put up is the boundary.

All those motor homes that were at the beach are fully self-contained, and before they leave they check and clean up their rubbish and take it away with them.

While I was out there the council workers were there doing rubbish collections and cleaning the public toilets. They were also asking the campers for their rubbish so they could dispose of it for them.

They were doing an absolutely great job, very polite, very friendly, and in no way bothered by the campers' presence.

In reference to the dog owners, the Motor Home Association had reports from members about dog owners, some of them being members of the association, not picking up after their dogs. In the association rules they have to do this. They must also have them on a lead, so these people will be warned by the association to clean up.

Thank you to all the other Motor Home Association campers that I saw cleaning up around both areas, picking up rubbish and bottles and taking it to rubbish bins, and the dog owners that were cleaning up after their dogs.

These people that are living in these homes really take pride and care in their back yard and the scenery of this country.

So really I've got to go back to the beginning and say, these people spend money in our community, actually all small communities.

My name is Michael G Crossley. I am a local, and would like to see the Far North prosper, by not just money but by being a place of very inviting and friendly people. Let's face it, we want to live as one, let it start in the Far North. Ramp Road's a good place to start.

So please let's be a happy community, not an angry one.

MICHAEL G CROSSLEY

Kaitaia