Letters to the editor: Museum vote a resounding no despite low voter turnout

Low vote still counts

In reply to Charmian Brown's letter (Letters, May 5) about the museum referendum - great creative accounting. The museum vote was a no, just like National lost the election. Bend it any way you want, it still says no. But here's a thought, if Charmian was anywhere near right (and I don't believe she is) then the 50 per cent of people she says want a museum could pay for it, with the cost added to the rates charges of those who want. Then those of us who cannot afford it won't have to suffer for something we don't want or need.
Gary Horan
Bayfair

Ratepayers' choice

Take note councillors - John Robson got the votes because he didn't want the museum, a clear message. Abide by referendum, your ratepayers have spoken.
Janet Drake
Bethlehem

White privilege

Perhaps we need to move the conversation regarding Māori wards away from invectives and focus more on context. Over half of New Zealand's parliamentarians are European/Pākehā, as usually is the makeup of Cabinet.

Government ministries, as well as city and district councils, are also predominately European/Pākehā. The personnel of the over 20,000 incorporated societies/trusts in Aotearoa are majority managed by Europeans/Pākehā.

This predominance of Europeans/Pākehā across the range of the tiers of decision-making from Parliament and across our society surely raises the spectre of white privilege as well as the shadow of institutionalised racism.

Giving consideration to the ideas expressed above then, how is the minority in terms of numbers, in this case Māori, able to have a voice and effect change? Vote yes for the inclusion and partnership that are Māori wards.
Wol and Merrill Simmons-Hansen
Avenues

Same problem

Frank Cammock of Te Puke complains about no consultation about the reduction from four lanes to two through Te Puke, disrupting the traffic flow through town (Letters, May 5) and this brings me to a similar situation in Greerton Village. Same problem, different council.

A couple of years ago, Greerton folk were consulted at an open meeting with Mayor Crosby and the council's roading manager in attendance. The ratepayers gave them a definite hands off Greerton Village. It made no difference. Greerton Village is currently being worked over.

When you travel Cameron Rd from town, it is dual carriageway to the hospital, with a grassed median centre. Then it changes to just two lanes with a white hatched median centre. This is to allow safe overtaking by police, ambulances, fire engines etc. The works currently being built eliminate the driveable median strip and, with the current traffic jams, there is no way through where an emergency vehicle could overtake the jam.
Peter Turmer Pyes Pa

Mistaken issues

It is concerning that in the promotion of Māori ward petitions, many believed that the issue was over hospital wards for Māori or the appointing of Māori wardens, and voted accordingly.
Bryan Johnson
Omokoroa