Fixing Kowhai Park's flying fox is not rocket science, argues Mike Walker of Fordell. Photo / File
Fixing Kowhai Park's flying fox is not rocket science, argues Mike Walker of Fordell. Photo / File
OPINION
Māori wards
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has had legislation passed that changes the law, giving councils the power to create Māori wards, if councils so wish, bypassing resident poll-based referendums.
On this matter, we must look to our understanding of Treaty principles of protection, participation and naturally partnership;something the Wanganui Ratepayers Association and chair Ray Brightwell certainly did not mention at all in his recent opposing letter to Chronicle (February 20). Council-generated public consultation will still occur.
Our own rural board represents 20 per cent of residents and has a "nominal" 13th seat at council. He has speaking but no voting rights.
Recently the council moved to give the rural representative attendance and voting rights on the Climate Change Committee. This is a good move.
Iwi represent 20 per cent of our total population and one could suggest some initial equal presence there based on Treaty principles starting with the same committee.
Do local iwi want or are even ready for a Māori ward here? Don't assume. It's not that simple in Whanganui's case.
This is not about the right or wrong of Māori wards. It is about starting a conversation with local iwi. It is the obvious thing to do.
Ray, open your whare, have a hui, start the korero and learn.
ROSS FALLEN Whanganui
Your letters
Fix the flying fox
What a farce. Here we have an elected council and its employees who cannot fix a flying fox (News, March 25).
It's not rocket science for goodness' sake.
Come clean, is it the elected members or the staff who are incapable of making a decision? We have engineers and designers deciding on building consents, road and drainage design, and they can't even organise the repairs to a flying fox.
It's no wonder the velodrome roof has not been completed, or the mole has not been fixed or the Fordell village has no footpaths.
Come on Hamish, you're the boss, show some guts and get these guys off their butts and give us the service we pay for.
Rod and Ginny Emmett (Letters, March 27) write asking if there is any political party willing to comment on the issue of water-fluoridation.
This adds to a few verbal queries I have received. As an executive member of Social Credit NZ I can assure the Emmetts that my party has consistently opposed fluoridation since it was first introduced back in the 1950s.
Our objection is primarily one of individual choice, but with the emphasis on the "eco" prefix to the word "eco-nomics" our anti-pollution policies make us wary of adding fluoride compounds to our environment. Fluorides have a limited role in industry so we are not "anti-fluoride" as some would claim.
We have no objection to the addition of calcium-fluoride to school milk or the use of tablets.
The Emmetts mention nutrition so banning sugary drinks should be a useful way to lower the rate of decay in children's teeth.
My turn to ask a question: Where is the Minister of Health on that subject?
