Shane Jones and big threat to environment
Minister Shane Jones has to be identified as currently the biggest threat to the environment in New Zealand.
His efforts to diminish the impact of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in fast-track consent processes (that was always only a token presence) is not in keeping with what one should reasonably expect from a Minister for Regional Development where a balance between development and its impact on the environment is surely of importance, both to the region affected and the country as a whole. Has Minister Penny Simmonds got anything to say about this, given that environment is one of her portfolios?
The minister’s determination to eliminate regional councils and similar bodies must also be looked on as a threat to the environment. Who else is going to monitor resource consents in an appropriate way?
Local authorities cannot do it because of conflicts of interest (they cannot operate, for example, a sewage treatment plant and also monitor the discharges therefrom against the relevant consent(s). Would the job be given to one of the newly amalgamated Crown Research Institutes?
I personally do not believe that they would be up to the job.
It is my hope that many New Zealanders will be as concerned as I am about this issue.
Graham Mason
Dunedin
Hide and seek
The Israeli army is, per capita, the most well armed and sophisticated in the world. It even includes the Iron Dome system. Their surveillance and counter-intelligence techniques are sold to many countries including the United States.
Does anyone on the planet truly believe this army is unable to locate not 10, not 50, but 250 hostages in Gaza? Gaza is very small. It occupies one tenth of Dunedin’s land area.
The Israelis could have found the hostages within hours.
The Israeli army is bombing every square metre of Gaza and starving the Palestinians. This seems the most unlikely way to have the hostages returned safely.
Philip Gillen
Musselburgh
Beware the Prof
Replying to Denis Horne re Jeffrey Sachs (Letters 1.9.25). Please review the Sachs' videos and count the number of times he says ‘‘I’’.
Prof Sachs is deeply involved in self-promotion. He fondly imagines that his insistence on an oppositional viewpoint enhances the deep ‘‘wisdom’’ underlying his narrative. He is entirely self-interested and unfortunately for those who find him credible, this indicates that he is pointing them in the wrong direction.
It is not altruism nor social contracting, but for his own purposes. Such rhetoric is a not atypical path toward advancing his own agenda which captures the attention of the previously uncommitted, sceptical listener.
Not that there is anything wrong with scepticism - it is, in fact very healthy in troubled times.
But beware the manipulator with a loud pedantic voice, clipped enunciation, a repetitively dogmatic speaking style and above all, a self-sustaining axe to grind.
V. H. Markham
Dunedin
Waitaki Girls’ High is aiming for a strong future
Recent reporting has suggested that the Waitaki Girls’ High School Board of Trustees has been “dumped”. This is inaccurate.
The board remains in place and continues to serve the school community.
At the board’s own request, the Ministry of Education appointed a limited statutory manager (LSM) to provide additional governance support.
The LSM has temporarily assumed certain responsibilities, such as employment, policy, and communication, while the elected board continues its other important functions.
This arrangement is a constructive step forward, not a punitive action. It ensures the school has extra expertise and capacity to address challenges and strengthen systems, while maintaining community representation through the board.
The wellbeing, safety, and success of our students are our top priorities.
We acknowledge that the school has faced challenges, and we are taking them seriously.
With the support of the board, the ministry, staff, and whānau, we are already putting improvements in place.
We are committed to transparency and accountability. Parents and whānau will be kept informed through regular updates and open communication.
Our focus is on ensuring safe, supportive, and thriving environment for every learner.
Waitaki Girls’ High School is proud of its students and community. We ask for fair and accurate reporting to ensure the public has a clear understanding of the positive steps being taken.
Together, we are determined to create a strong future for our school.
Ben Nettleton
Limited statutory manager, Waitaki Girls' High School
Not quite sun shining day
I read with interest your article (ODT 31.8.25) re solar power.
You made some very good suggestions. Your estimates of savings created by a solar panel array on the roof of a home are quite different from our experience however.
We built our new home with a 4kw array of solar panels (but no battery) facing due north, in Abbotsford, just under 11 years ago.
Tesla power walls were not available back in 2014.
Our inverter records the kilowatt hours generated and Meridian Energy gives us a record of power fed back to the grid.
Here are real life figures averaged over 11 years;
Annual total generation 4731kw
Used on site 2194kw (current day rate 30c/kwh)
Fed back to grid 2537kw (current rate received 17c/kwh)
Therefore our savings are 2537 x $0.17 = $431 plus 2194 x $0.30 = 658 Total savings $1089 per annum.
You quoted a 5kw array, therefore savings would be proportionally higher at $1361 but still only 68% of the figure you quoted.
Meridian Energy are currently offering us a buyback rate of 17c/kw but for many years that was only 8c and could drop again when our contract expires
Based on our experience, anyone installing a solar system in Dunedin based on your figures is going to be very disappointed.
Ian James
Abbotsford
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: letters@odt.co.nz
