Have your say: Just get over it

Hundertwasser is still on the minds of Northland.

Just get over it

Cr Cutforth's very bitter letter, Advocate June 9, was quite revealing.

She stated that Prosper Northland's cause only "squeaked through". She said it attracted 50 per cent of the total number of votes. In fact the final figure was 51.01 per cent. Her preferred option, Harbourside, only attracted 20.07 per cent. If I remember correctly it was the council itself that introduced the demolition option which attracted 28.91 per cent. Both options A and C added together didn't exceed option B!

Cr Cutforth states that she looks forward to representing the 50 per cent of voters who did not support HWMAC. Does she intend then to obstruct those who did? I think it's time for Cr Cutforth to get over it and concentrate on the job she is paid to do.

There are other important issues that the council has to deal with and surely her responsibility is to work on behalf of 100 per cent of the constituents.

Mary Johnston
Ngunguru

Honesty first

Most of us have voted for dishonest dollars rather than for integrity in art.
So be it. Now I would like to express my respect for the many brave people who voted in favour of honesty instead.

Leo Cappel
Tikipunga
Change needed

When Sir John Walker won a gold medal in 1976 at the Montreal Olympics by one tenth of a second, he was "first past the post".

No matter how close the two guys behind him were, they were not gold medallists, they got silver and bronze.

The recent referendum called by Whangarei District Council to decide the future of the old Harbour Board Building has finished. They asked for it to be binding and for it to be "first past the post".

The return of votes was over 45 per cent (way more than for the last local body elections), which showed people were taking it seriously and wanted to be heard.

The Prosper Northland Trust proposal for a Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Arts Museum won hands down, polling close to 7000 more votes than the second place option and over 8000 more than the third.

It's time for everyone in Whangarei to celebrate a gutsy call by those voters, get behind them and work together for the betterment and prosperity of our city.

I ask the local press to lead the way and stop publishing submissions from old opponents of the HWMAC if they are pointless, misinformed or just downright mischievous. They cannot undo what has been done and only serve to confuse and divide public opinion. Support the voters' gold medal choice, enter into the spirit of promoting our place as a destination not a drive by.

For things to change we have to change. For things to get better we have to get better.

Rosie Dean
Onerahi

Sigh of relief

Euphoria and a hefty sigh of relief at last!

Finally common sense has prevailed in our divided town to proceed with the HWMAC project (subject to finance raised in two years).

What with the backing of four mayors, Maori and non-Maori arts communities, the business community (including the various building organisations, retail and hospitality sectors), schools, as well as many eminent outsiders such as Kevin Roberts of Saatchi + Saatchi, Sir Michael Hill and Sir Hamish Keith, should we have expected any different?

A big thank you for their vision, perseverance and passion to the Prosper North Trust and Hundertwasser HQ helpers, WLH (Whangarei Loves Hundertwasser), Yes Whangarei, Colour Our City, Heather and Glenda at the BACH, mural artists and the young artistic talents of Kamo Intermediate and other schools, for achieving such a magnificent outcome!

We look forward to the next part of the journey now.

Let's make Whangarei the Arts Hub of NZ!

Best of luck everyone.

Nora Elson-White
Whangarei