Kahu Flavell (left) and Josh Tindley want John Wilson Ocean
Dr protected from vehicles for the younger generation.
Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Dunedin school pupils Josh Tindley and Kahu Flavell
reckoned young voices were being drowned out as adults argued
over John Wilson Ocean Dr.
So the boys decided to do something about it.
The pair - both year eight pupils at Tahuna Normal
Intermediate School - drafted a submission and sent it to the
Dunedin City Council, then went along to this week's hearings
committee meeting to make their case.
And they certainly didn't hold back.
Far from being nervous or intimidated, Kahu (13) launched
into a plea to keep the road closed to vehicles, and ripped
into motorists who made a habit of leaving rubbish lying
around.
"Just because we are kids it doesn't mean we don't notice the
rubbish and glass left behind after [cars] have been along at
John Wilson Ocean Dr.
"It's disgusting and lazy the way adults treat that stretch
of road," he said.
Josh (12) then took the microphone, praising walkers and
cyclists who now made the vehicle-free drive "really, really
friendly" and safe, and urged committee members to keep it
that way.
"Adults are always telling kids to get off the computer . . .
so taking a walk or riding up the drive is a fun way to do
that."
The pair said their school regularly took trips to the drive
for physical education classes, but they worried the road's
peaceful car-free space would be lost before they were
adults.
"Sometimes it can be really sad knowing that when we get
older there might not be much of a land left after adults
have eaten everything in the ocean, poisoned all the rivers
through farming and polluted the atmosphere," Josh said.
"We don't have any control of that now, but we still have a
voice and an opinion."
The boys spoke at Wednesday's session and made their case
immediately after Josh's mother, Justine Tindley, who also
wanted the road kept closed to vehicles.
Ms Tindley said it was the boys' decision to make their own
submission, and the pair worked on it each evening for
several weeks before Wednesday's appearance.
- chris.morris@odt.co.nz
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