Your views: Readers' letters

Good question

Nicola Patrick's Conservation Comment asks why the Department of Conservation is "Going soft on seabed mining" (Chronicle, November 7) by forfeiting its statutory advocacy role to protect the marine environment in respect of TransTasman Resources' application to mine the seabed off Patea.

It's a good question, given the recent dire report on "The State of our Marine Environment 2016" by the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ: "Ninety per cent of our seabird and shorebird species or subspecies are threatened with, or at risk of, extinction" and "more than one-quarter of marine mammal species or subspecies are threatened by extinction." "The fragile state of some of our wildlife is in part due to historic pressures when people viewed these animals as resources, game, or pests. For marine birds, present-day pressures include the loss or modification of breeding habitats, predators, and fishing by-catch. For marine mammals, pressures include by-catch, ship strike, pollution, habitat modification, and competition for food from commercial fishing."

Can we conclude that DoC is happy to have experimental seabed mining added to the causes of habitat loss in the South Taranaki Bight where 1.575 billion tonnes of "de-ored" sediment will be dumped back into the sea over 35 years? Or has it become so thoroughly politicised that it cannot go against the wishes of our pro-mining Government, at the costs of its credibility and statutory purpose?

The startling loss of political neutrality and competence seen in the Ministry of Primary Industries and its predecessor, Fisheries, which sabotaged our Fishing Quota Management System, prevents a depleted public service from speaking up for the public good.

PETER GRANT
Okoia

Code of conduct

I was delighted to learn that our new mayor has his priorities right, when one of the first two issues being addressed was a review of the council's code of conduct. This code is a living document, and therefore merits regular review.

It is hoped that all councillors, having read and signed it, will be seen to be bound by it.

V GREGORY-MEREDITH
Wanganui

Appeal thanks

As co-ordinator of the successful two-day Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer appeal, I would like to thank everyone who gave so generously.

It's not the amount you give, though in some cases that was definitely more than we expected; it's just the fact that you cared enough to donate whatever you were able to spare.

Without the support and hours of help I received from close friend and "right hand person" Sharron Callaghan, things would not have run as smoothly as they did. Mate, you were superb.

Then there were all our willing collectors.

The Women's Institutes of Wanganui, who covered Trafalgar Square for the two days (including one couple who travelled from Marton to do a double shift -- thanks Jean and Alan).

The City College Military Academy pupils who covered two sites on Friday, the Zonta ladies who covered Countdown on Saturday, the lovely Sumita, who walked the riverside market for three hours, and the many individual collectors who gave their time so very willingly even though the weather let us down and it was bitterly cold on some sites.

You all excelled and we raised more than $4000.

It couldn't have happened without the warmth and caring I see demonstrated every day locally. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all.

SHIRLEY FORWARD
Castlecliff

A police state?

So now it is official -- New Zealand has entered the era of being a police state.

Citizens who attended an address about euthanasia, ordinary people like you and me, had their names and addresses taken, their homes raided and their privacy invaded.

One must assume this was at the directive of our Minister of Police, Judith Collins.

Ms Collins had attained notoriety by her judge-and-jury handling of the David Bain compensation case in which she overrode the decision of an eminent judge who had far more legal experience than herself.

Apparently New Zealanders are no longer permitted to discuss matters that have a "potential" for breaking the law.

We must either toe the line or expect to be invaded by the Thought Police.

In this latest case it would be a decent gesture and common courtesy for Collins to offer a personal apology to those unfortunate people who were harassed by the actions of her underlings.

We have not yet reached the extremes of Communist Russia or China, but we are certainly heading in that direction.

Through Government intervention in the lives of private citizens, we are witnessing democracy slowly being strangled by dictatorship and hypocrisy.

Nothing to do with you? You don't really care?

Then don't ask for whom the bell tolls -- the next time it might be for you.

MITCH MORGAN
Kaipara

Cancer treatment

The lead article in the Chronicle (November 8) must be replied to as, in my opinion, it contained inaccuracies.

Cancer patient Mr X complained about having to travel to Palmerston North for treatment five times and raised cost as one issue as well as delocalisation of Wanganui services.

Cost should not be an issue, as the Cancer Society provides a free door-to-door service to cater for most appointments operated by a team of volunteer drivers, and St John operates a regular shuttle service.

Ms Schiebli from the Wanganui DHB should have been aware of this. If one does elect to use their own vehicle, mileage can be claimed and parking is free for cancer patients.

I accept the physical nature of having to travel can be onerous, but some patients have to do it for 30 or 35 days without a break.

I am not unsympathetic to Mr X's concerns but feel the Chronicle reporter should have done more research and published a balanced article.

MURRAY HUGHES
Whanganui