Hoping against hope that this is good news
We might hope that a "New technique helping save Māui — Hector’s dolphins" reported in the Otago Daily Times (14.7.25) is as good as it sounds.
Unfortunately clever research continually overpromises and underdelivers. Whether it’s drone dolphin spotters, satellite tags stuck to dolphins, or now, DNA sequencing, accompanied by hopeful headlines suggesting that technology can save dolphins, what we still need is action.
What is overdue, is industry and government leadership that supports a transition for fishers out of Māui and Hector’s habitat. No dolphin should be drowned in a fishing net. Yet at least 12 Hector’s dolphins were killed by bottom trawling in the last fishing year. Set nets killed another three.
More research is no substitute for leaders in local, regional and central government, and the industry itself, who will actively support trawl and set net-free seas, required for Māui and Hector’s dolphins to survive.
Gone potty
Today Big Brother had me over a barrel or maybe a potters wheel?
Five days ago I was elected on to our local pottery group committee. Today I was informed I had to join Kiwibank and stay with the bank as long as I remained a committee member. Why? Because of the money laundering laws in our country. I am not a signatory on the club’s bank account but still perceived as a risk.
Today I sadly resigned from our committee. I refuse to be under surveillance and forced to join a bank if I want to offer my services to our humble club. We are further down the slide of madness than I thought.
Powerful words
Otago regional councillor Michael Laws’ own words are a powerful reason not to re-elect him.
The ODT reports that Laws emailed ENGO Sustainable Tarras stating, "I am intrigued as to how [Ms Keith], a Wellington-based environmental activist, became the chair of an anti-mining lobby in my constituency" (15.7.25).
The elephant in the room is Santana Minerals’ proposed giant gold mine at Bendigo, which Mr Laws obviously supports and Ms Keith opposes.
While Kiwis love Antarctica, not all of us get to live there either.
Nevertheless, we would be appalled to learn an open-cast mine was being planned for, say, McMurdo Sound.
Now, my suspicion is that Ms Keith has probably visited Central Otago at least once.
Does it make her some sort of inauthentic flake for having the pluck to step up when elected representatives don’t? Vote him out.
The neighbours
My family’s property is 900m from the Santana testing facility. We have never been contacted or informed about any activities occurring there (which appear to be in breach of the district plan).
The company does its absolute best to avoid contact and does not share any information. It is extremely difficult to uncover what applications they have lodged, what they plan in the future, how and when these will be implemented.
There is a secrecy that surrounds the company and its activities.
ORC councillor Michael Laws’ statement about contact from locals is inappropriate. He has been contacted, other ORC and Central Otago District Council councillors have been contacted, and given the process is national policy the issue has been taken to a national level.
Is it apathy or hopelessness re Gaza inaction?
Sadly it would appear there is widespread apathy amongst most New Zealanders about the plight of the Palestinians.
One hopes that this is due to a feeling of hopelessness rather than a lack of concern.
I have had a belief that New Zealand stood for fairness and for what is right. Perhaps it was my wishful thinking and is a fallacy.
This government seems comfortable with toeing the line with most other Western countries and remains practically silent. It is appalling what is happening.
Surely, surely, surely our government can no longer sit on the fence.
Why has the Israeli ambassador not been sent back home? All trade with Israel should be banned and can we really condone allowing Israelis to visit New Zealand on holiday, giving some of them presumably a break from bombing the Palestinians?
I for one would like to be on the right side of history but is lame to say it when there is daily carnage.
It is embarrassing and appalling that this country is doing little to nothing.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
