Council has not spent any of our money doing things for Castlecliff residents.
"Council was keen to see the project go ahead but in a way that benefited the business and community," said council senior planner Jonathan Barrett (Chronicle, June 10).
In case he hasn't noticed, Castlecliff is a very large community, and three-quarters of it is aged over 50. We need a doctor who really cares about his patients.
Where is Jenny Duncan's voice in all this, as she is our council rep for our community? All promises until you get elected on to the council?
MARGARET HADDON
Castlecliff
SBW logic odd
In your editorial today (June 26) you praise SBW for taking off his shorts and socks and giving them to a 10-year-old boy. To my mind this is rather peculiar behaviour.
But you go on to commend SBW for this behaviour by saying that he is role-modelling his Islamic faith. Could you explain by what logic you reach this conclusion?
RICHARD PIERCE
Marton
Just as civilised
It is my conviction that history, like many other human endeavours, is ever-evolving.
A Chronicle editorial on the Moutoa monument and questions from Tom Pittams confirm my convictions.
No, Maori did not have anything resembling the Ten Commandments. Nor did they need any such instructions.
My Maori ancestors were very civil people and therefore just as civilised as the colonials.
Words from the horse's mouth: One Hetaraka Tautahi, who was arrested in Waitotara in 1865 "to discourage rebellion", confined in a cave in Dunedin, given no trial and subjected to forced labour for several years, made the following statement when he was eventually released and returned to his home and people: "Kaore he Rangi, kaore he Whenua, Kaore he maramatanga, he pouri katoa. Na tou Ao kuteretere noaihoana, Kaore e mau" (The sky is lost, the land is lost, enlightenment is lost and all is sadness. For our world is rapidly disappearing and we are unable to hold it).
Evidence indeed that the words on the Moutoa monument were rubbish then and are rubbish now.
The Maori people of Waitotara went from building a flour mill in 1852 to war within 20 years of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Their motivation was the preservation of their culture and their way of life, all of which was dependant on the land.
The motivation of the colonials was greed.
I quote a pepeha, or saying, that is known through the Maori world and is superior to anything you will find in those Ten Commandments that were totally ignored by the early governments of this country.
"Whaia he iti kahurangi, kei tu tu ohu koe me he maunga teitei" (Seek ye the small treasures in life. Should you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain).
POTONGA NEILSON
Castlecliff
