Lecture recordings and an endangered species
The life of a university student used to be so simple.
You turned up (almost) every day and if the lecturer got diverted into some fascinating expose, it did not matter, you always had the textbook.
Then lectures got more formalised with powerpoints, handouts, etc and the textbook disappeared.
And now it appears the lecturer may disappear.
Old school values
I am disgusted with certain Dunedin city councillors who continue to exploit their positions as elected representatives by complaining to the media about our current mayor.
While Jules Radich has not been a popular mayor he is still the current elected leader of our city and as such should be respected.
What type of example is this continuing tirade to younger generations?
Councillors who use the media to try and destroy others need to take a good look at themselves. Their actions say more about them than the person they are targeting.
It’s time to return to old school values and decency.
This is why
You wonder at why people don’t put their names forward for public office, and then reiterate a story that has been well and truly thrashed about Barry Williams.
May I put it in record that over his over 25 years on the community board he has helped start the singles dance, been a stalwart of the rugby club — including organising a wonderful centenary with Peter FitzSimons and being made a life member — organised a rugby sevens event that bought people from afar during the World Cup, welcomed many to the district, been a very generous supporter of every raffle and fundraiser, reached out to help people quietly.
One poor decision does not a man make. You should do better to reflect the reality and why Barry has continued to receive support from the Middlemarch community.
A full field
After reading the article (ODT 5.8.25) pertaining to the fact of there are 16 — yes 16 — candidates for the Dunedin mayoralty I have some questions and views on this.
On one hand some people would quantify this by saying that this is democracy. Unfortunately I do not buy into this, as I would suggest most normal people would not either.
For me there are only two reasons for this: (a) that somewhere behind the scenes is an orchestration attempting to split votes or (b) some candidates have an ego that apparently requires this public exposure.
Another factor I definitely have an opinion on is candidates that stand and do not reside in the particular city and I refer specifically to Mr Clark standing for the Invercargill area. It is also my belief that candidates for mayor should have served at the very least one term as a councillor.
I guess it indicates overall how difficult it can be to interest people of the right calibre to put their hand up for a host of things as in clubs, councils and God forbid even MPs.
Paywave changes a swipe at careful budgeters
Surprise surprise.
A cafe owner has said that if paywave charges are banned the cost will have to be passed on to customers via prices.
As soon as this policy was announced I expected that.
So people like me who budget their spending carefully and avoid paying any extra charges will be paying more.
So will all the paywave users who don’t care if it costs a little more for the sake of saving a few seconds at the till.
Thanks very much Mr Luxon.
No confidence
Reading about the discussions between councillors in today’s ODT (29.7.25), I wish the ballot papers would include an option that used to be on the list for the Otago University Student Association. "I have no confidence in any of these candidates". Perhaps it is time to add that option to the local body election lists?
Obvious query on FBI missed
The recent exposure and disturbing, farcical aftermath of the otherwise secret visit of the Trump political ally head of the FBI reveals a major failure of the media in this country.
When pressed on Kash Patel’s highly significant and explicit statement of the principal mission of the new FBI secret police base in New Zealand as "countering China in the Pacific", the hapless Judith Collins deflected it by saying that she had no control over what the FBI head said.
In a major failure by the journalist, it was left at that when the obvious follow up was "No Minister. That’s not good enough. The FBI have announced a completely different purpose for the office than what the government has said it is for. Do you know what you have signed up for? "
Putting America first
Re Robert Patman’s comments concerning the establishment of an FBI office in New Zealand. His opinion is that it might be seen as an intrusion by the United States and that the US does not share our world view and doesn’t believe in international rules-based law.
He uses as an example the supposed territorial claims against Canada, against Greenland and the US imposition of tariffs on the goods of trading partners.
Trump has never had designs on annexing Canada and he made the comments to show his displeasure at the behaviour of Canada’s then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As for Greenland, the local population have shown an interest in the idea following decades of disinterest in their welfare from the Denmark government.
For decades, the US had a military presence in Greenland, and I am sure if given the chance the population would like to be the 51st State of the Union.
The US has every right to impose tariffs as it sees fit: Trump is doing what a good leader should do, look after the interests of his own people first.
A powerful and respectful US is the only thing that will save this world from future conflagrations.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
