Right hand and what the right hand is doing
The old cliche that the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand’s doing, to describe incompetent management, needs a tweak with this coalition government. The right hand doesn’t know what the other right hand is doing, or maybe the other.
On the National hand we have Minister for Tourism, Louise Upston, touting growth targets of 5 million international visitors a year by 2034, with a majority of those visiting the Queenstown-Lakes District. On the NZ First hand we have Minister for Regional Economic Development, Shane Jones, touting growth targets that involve cratering the landscapes that those visitors come to see and actively enjoy.
There is absolutely no sense that this government knows anything about cause and effect, conflicting values, limits to growth, and environmental risk assessment for the future of New Zealanders. Ms Upston and Mr Jones have 10 children between them and several mokopuna. Their future and those of mine depend, not on the bottom line of Australian mining companies or traffic-jamming and sewage drowning in Queenstown, but on caring for our priceless environment whose only bottom line is preservation.
Philip Temple
Dunedin
Thanks, but
You were gracious enough to publish my letter regarding this mining venture (18.7.25), where I rebutted two opinions I considered emotive and poorly considered.
However, I object to your heading ‘‘Mining is great’’ which suggests I am an advocate for this activity at any cost. Mining is never great for any environment. My letter was an attempt to put another view in front of people who do not look at both sides of an argument before committing themselves to a cause.
Gavin Dann
Alexandra
Responsible behaviour
Comments by Damian Spring, Santana CEO (ODT 15.7.25), are telling.
Mr Spring confirms that they have run an industrial processing plant in ‘‘temporary buildings’’ for four or so years without ever applying for consent. The works he now proposes will involve major earthworks, visual amenity impacts, and facilitate traffic volumes for his entire mining workforce of well over 250 people. The non-consented approval path he seeks is a choice to fly under the radar. Not answering the many questions we have posed and lack of any meaningful engagement with the community just confirms this further.
It is worth reminding your readers that Santana is a tiny Australian company that has never built an open-cast hard rock mine, and almost entirely relies on external consultants in their development of this project.
Questioning its plans and behaviour to date is not only justified, it would be irresponsible not to.
Rob van der Mark
Sustainable Tarras
Community housing
Thanks to G. Nicol (Letters ODT 17.7.25) for raising the issue. Those who supported the proposed new community housing build were: Walker, Laufiso, Garey, Benson-Pope, Mayhem and O’Malley.
David Benson-Pope
Dunedin
Dogged opposition
I am appalled by the decision to have a mural of a British bulldog. They are badly designed brachiocephalic dogs. They have trouble breathing during exercise because of enlarged uvula and small nostrils. They suffer from heat stress. Many need caesareans to give birth due to the puppies’ big heads.
Popularising this breed of dog is not in the interests of animal welfare.
Sheenagh Tinkler
Palmerston North
The modern game day is a load of rubbish
How to spoil a test match. Let the Sky showbiz frenzy team organise it.
First, a man with a booming voice and a mic that can be heard all over Hamilton.
A music device that drowns out the slightest sign of crowd spontaneity with explosions of music and instructions what to think.
Smother the referee’s instructions, spectator conversation and, in case attention is diverted from the razzmatazz, the game in play.
Orchestrate, orchestrate, control, control. Abandon class. Aim for crass.
Christopher Horan
Lake Hawea
Lights out
I have noticed that the latest subdivision in Tomahawk, 45 sections of “prime” real estate, has turned on the streetlights, of which there are 22. That is 22 new lights burning bright in a subdivision where 15 sections appear to have been sold but not a sod has turned a sod yet.
For whom do these lights glow in the gloom of our night? Perhaps a solitary dog walker who otherwise may stumble off the sidewalk? For this subdivision is empty of life yet it is burning power, to what purpose I ask?
Owen Kreft
Dunedin
No to plonkers on the council
I have always been fascinated by the argument that politics have no place in local politics (John le Brun, Letters 15.7.25).
Dunedin is unusual in having minimal participation by people who name their political affiliation. Personally I’m grateful to those who do - whether I support that affiliation or not. They are prepared to tell me straight up, simply by saying Green, Labour - and now Act New Zealand - the values they hold and will demonstrate around the council table. Some candidates I then easily dismiss from my potential list and others I will put to the top.
That does leave a whole lot where I’m reading between the lines to find out more and hoping I don’t either help elect a plonker by mistake or, worse, someone who is covertly aligned to a party whose values I don’t support.
Gio Angelo
Belleknowes
Well, yes, but
In other times I might agree with V. H. Markham (Letters 17.7.25) that a city council should confine itself to local matters.
Unfortunately, in this time - now - a genocide is happening. Thousands of unarmed civilians have been killed. Those remaining are at risk of detention and incarceration in a concentration camp.
When very similar things happened in my parents’ time, 80 years ago, the world eventually stood against it.
Three common sayings come to mind: ‘We didn’t know’’ and ‘‘Never again.’’
The third is the legal and philosophical adage ‘‘Qui tacet consentire’’ implying that ‘‘He who is silent gives consent.’’
I wish to speak out against the genocide of the Palestinian people. I am pleased that my city council has seen fit to speak out.
I would dearly love my government to speak out - but they are silent.
What will we say in five, 10, 80 years time? ‘‘We didn’t know’’?
Dorothy Browne
North East Valley
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
