Aerial shot of Manukau Harbour. Photo / Richard Robinson
With all the attention focused on the Waitemata it seems it is overlooked that Auckland is a city between two harbours. While the Waitemata needs and deserves the suggested protections, so does the Manukau Harbour. For too long harbours all around New Zealand have been the dumping ground for storm water overflows, waste water and sewage.
Watercare is seeking a new resource consent for a 35-year period to cater for the expected growth in South Auckland of 30,000 new homes and, while the sewage will be treated to a higher level than is currently achieved, discharging into the Manukau is still the preferred option. Other options such as land-based treatments or an offshore pipe 2km into the Tasman Sea have been discarded.
Auckland Council's own website states, "The Manukau Harbour is a significant cultural, ecological, social and economic treasure. Returning the harbour to a pristine state is one of the biggest projects our city will ever face, and it requires an integrated approach from all people, agencies, and organisations." Let's give equal emphasis to the water quality of the Manukau and the Waitemata.
Diana Queenin, Green Bay.
The Panuku-led project to preserve the old Vos and Brijs boatyard needs to be completed. Few are aware that a consortium of three boatyards on Beaumont St, including Vos', built a dozen 112' motor launches to fight in the Battle of the Pacific. While the minesweepers Kiwi and Moa and the light cruiser Leander earned deserved recognition, these Fairmiles operating out of the Solomons performed vital service defending convoys and conducting anti-submarine patrols alongside the US Navy.
Furthermore, they were manned by members of the Royal New Zealand Volunteer Naval Reserve - citizen sailors, many of whose descendants still sail the waters of the Auckland Harbour and Gulf.
It is not only about the building. It is also about them.
David Hill, Freeman's Bay.
I note a number of disgruntled voters believe Winston Peters was always going with Labour because he had started proceedings against some of his potential partners. They do the man a disservice. My observation is that Winston, like anyone who cared to follow the campaign and political commentators, knew he was odds on to hold the balance of power but believed that he had been wronged and wanted justice, whatever the fallout.
Michael Dragicevich, Whangarei.
Now Jacinda knows she has been taken for a ride, one which is just starting I suspect. Mr Peters has demonstrated he has no concept of the idea of good faith, he was never going to do a deal with the Nats, he was simply stringing Jacinda along to squeeze as much juice out of the lemon as possible. Now some interesting things are going to happen. For instance, I imagine part of the defence of those served with the discovery papers will be to make sure they shine as much light as possible on Mr Peters receiving more taxpayer money than he was entitled to over the years, to show that there is a strong public interest component to what went on. That's not going to look too flash. Metiria Turei found that out.
No, Jacinda, it's not "a personal matter". He's your chosen Deputy PM. He's the leader of your coalition party. He has started proceedings in those capacities. Among other things he has brought Crown Law into play which means more taxpayer money. And get ready for what could be a horribly embarrassing court case which you could have stopped in its tracks if Mr Peters had shown you some good faith, told you what he was going to do and given you the opportunity to intervene. Or did he, and you didn't?
Phil Sheat, Meadowbank.
Now that the Government has rightly settled the case of Teina Pora for wrongful imprisonment, it would do justice to look again at the shameful treatment of David Bain. His treatment by the National government is one of the more sordid cases in our political history. At great cost, through several "independent" reviews, the Government sought to find a legal eminence that would find Bain was not innocent on the balance of probabilities. After several attempts, they got what they wanted. Consequently, no compensation was forthcoming but in an attempt to close the matter, Bain was paid nearly $1 million to meet some of his legal expenses. The new Minister of Justice should do David Bain justice and award him full compensation of wrongful imprisonment as he has done for Teina Pora.
Vince Ashworth, Morrinsville.
How does this parliamentary shambles thing work? From all accounts National publicly agreed to support the nomination of Trevor Mallard as Speaker with Anne Tolley as Deputy Speaker. Come the day however, National turns turtle and creates mischief. The number of MPs in the House is 120, the government coalition has 63 seats with National/Act having 57 seats. Pretty clear to everyone else that even with five government MPs absent the Government had the numbers but it seems neither National nor Labour could add or work that out for themselves.
The worrying part is that we place these fiscal fools in charge of our country's finances. Final result predictably is that Mallard is warming the Speaker's chair and National got its wish for 109 select committee members instead of 96.
The likely cost to taxpayers for the day's nonsensical piece of stupidity would be at least $250,000. In a nutshell it reeks of political blackmail, arrogance and total incompetence by all involved, in short a complete waste of time, space and money.
Rob Paterson, Mount Maunganui.
The fact National is not the Government doesn't mean they are not great in certain areas (Mr English especially). Therefore, why does their sometimes degrading, pompous and smug behaviour pop up? Come on National, show some respect.
Rene Blezer, Taupo.
The assurances of John McConnell, chair of the Cornwall Park Trust Board, about the improvements to the Campbell Cres aspect of Cornwall Park are welcome. However, he must be appalled by the neglect of the neighbouring side of the park, One Tree Hill Domain, administered by the Auckland Council.
For years complaints have been registered about the paths just outside the Cornwall Park gates south of Crescent Rd, Golf Rd, Fern Ave area. These paths have heavy pedestrian traffic and barely allow two people to walk abreast, let alone enable push chairs or wheelchairs coming from opposite directions to pass.
Muddy tracks have been formed by walkers parallel to the concrete pathways and are hazardous and an eyesore. Furthermore there are no barriers to protect pedestrians from the increased vehicular traffic in recent years. It's over time for action by Auckland Council and pressure from Cornwall Park Trust Board.
Janfrie Wakim, Epsom.
Our Auckland city council is like the United Nations, full of middle aged people who talk a lot and do little of importance. I have written about the berms and parks before but now it's out of hand. The little park between Selwyn and Kohimarama Rds looks like hay. I'm also tired of driving down one-lane roads in suburbia having a "you or me" hand-waving with another driver to see who will squeeze behind a parked car so one of us can pass safely.
All home owners should park on the berms so we have safe two-lane roads again. If our councillors don't like it it, too bad. They can't sue every Aucklander. I would then organise a CBD march to let them know Aucklanders mean business.
Susan Lawrence, Kohimarama.
There have been calls recently for the chair of the Waikato DHB, Bob Simcock, to resign over his handling of ex-CEO Nigel Murray's spending of taxpayer funds. What has been absent from the media coverage is all the great work Bob, the board and the Waikato DHB have done and continue to do. I want to thank Bob on behalf of our organisation, Te Kohao Health, for the courage and leadership he has provided to radically improve Maori health outcomes by eliminating health inequities for Maori, rural communities and for those with disabilities.
Having worked in health for over 20 years, we finally feel that there is a determination by the Waikato DHB to make Maori health a priority. I have no doubt that by doing this we will together make a real difference in the number of Maori who die simply because they are not given the medical interventions and treatment they need when they need it. Mauri ora ki a tatou.
Lady Tureiti Moxon, managing director, Te Kohao Health.
Elisabeth Nicholls vanished from a retirement village in Riccarton two weeks ago.