Letter to the Editor, Thursday June 18, 2015

Swallowed

Sadly, yet another of our beautiful old villas has been snapped up by a swallow (defined as people who fly in for the summer then leave).

This is sad news for the following reasons:

-Swallows rarely give to our communities, meaning they don't volunteer for local ambulance rosters or fire brigades, although expect full use of these services.

-Don't give time to community libraries or other not-for-profit volunteer run organisations.

-Don't have children attend local playcentres or schools. A majority of the children come from outside the village to attend the local school.

-They increase the land values, which increases the rates so houses become unaffordable for even locals to buy.

But what is the most upsetting is that these magnificent old homes need to be lived in. Not left cold and lifeless for most of the year. These beautiful homes, once alive and vibrant, bubbling with people, are now dark, cold and bolted up. Will there be a time when we drive through the village in the evening and rarely see a light gleaming from the windows? Only time will tell.

ANAHERA MANUHIRI

Angela Guest

Kohukohu