One of these things is not like the other
I am very fond of old buildings, and none more so than the Dunedin Railway Station, of international significance as an example of Flemish Renaissance architecture, and reputedly the most photographed building in New Zealand. It was once listed by DK Eyewitness as one of only two significant southern hemisphere buildings out of 100 worldwide that "had to be seen" (the other the Sydney Opera House). It now sparkles with the current restoration, and his modest contribution to the $6.4 million cost of this, per his rates, willingly borne by this Dunediner.
The St James theatre in Auckland, while not in the same league, is, or should I say, was, a very fine building. A restoration is planned, and now the government has offered $15 million towards the project, which, unless I am mistaken, is $15 million greater than their contribution to the restoration of our railway station.
On the other hand, government has clawed back the $3m-$4m that had been earmarked for a PET scanner for our new "state of the art" hospital.
Something is not adding up here.
Well done Raylene
I wish to congratulate Raylene Collins on her excellent record as a bus driver (ODT, 26.6.23). I have known Raylene since she joined us at Dunedin City Transport many years ago. In spite of some male opposition she proved to be an excellent and popular driver. She is a much better driver than most of her male workmates, and a smooth and safe driver at all times.
I have been retired since December 2001, and I wish her well for the future.
Safety first, or last?
The government has announced the designation of safe zones of 150m around the facilities of six abortion providers in New Zealand, including Dunedin Hospital.
The government is addressing a problem that does not exist. These "Safe Areas" will come into force from August 25, 2023 and will criminalise any person who exercises their rights of free speech and assembly within the “safe area”. The government’s intention is to prevent harassment and intimidation of women seeking an abortion and of abortion staff. This would include family of the girl or woman or anyone else who wants to offer love and support to choose life for the unborn child.
The government ignored the advice of the Law Commission, which advised the Minister of Justice, Andrew Little, that safe area legislation was not necessary as the Summary Offences Act addressed any potential intimidation and harassment of women and abortion staff. There was also no support for this legislation from abortion providers or staff.
There is no evidence of harassment or intimidation of women seeking an abortion or of abortion staff. Why then is the government trying to solve a problem that does not exist ? The government is seeking to control what we think, what we say and where may go.
Aerial poison drop decried as eco-madness
News that toxic (1080) cereal pellet baiting of the NPCP Beresford Predator Control Operation (Catlins), for the Department of Conservation, would take place on July 28 was eco-madness.
A DOC information sheet on the 22,000ha public lands said the purpose was rodent control. It is necessary for Doc to understand rats are super-breeders. A female can breed at around three months or earlier and have three to four litters of up to 12 young a year. That’s a potential for one female rat to produce 48 young a year.
But Doc chooses to ignore, or is ignorant of, research that shows the use of aerial 1080 is not only futile but disastrous to the ecosystem.
For instance Landcare Research scientist Wendy Ruscoe in 2008 found while rat numbers were knocked back by perhaps 80%, the surviving rats with abundant food, increase reproduction and within a few years or earlier, explode to about three times greater than before poisoning took place.
All Doc will achieve within a few short years, is a population explosion of rats. That’s not accounting for the birds and insects killed by the 1080 drop.
Worse still, the increased rat numbers are a bonanza to stoats preying on rats. Consequently stoat numbers spiral upwards in a population surge.
Thus Doc will achieve both rat and stoat population explosions.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
