Q: It is well over a year since 300-year-old human bones were found by builders on a Long Bay restaurant site (July 2, 2013). In the following weeks, the area was fenced off, local iwi performed necessary ceremonies, heritage advisers visited for a few weeks, and regional park staff suspended other works. Now it is a disgraceful, dingy pile of old wood, tin cans and decaying food. Recently, part of the elaborate surrounding security fencing was blown down. It remains unattended. This park is accepted as one of our most popular. When are we going to see this eyesore removed? Clearly nobody even cares about it.
Mike Farman and Josie Coyne, Torbay.
The discovery of koiwi on a building site is extremely sensitive and involves working with iwi and Heritage New Zealand.
Since the discovery of bones on the Long Bay restaurant site, staff from Auckland Council have worked through the next steps with these groups and are now awaiting final building consent. Construction work is expected to resume this month.
Q: I cycle a lot in Auckland, both to commute and socially, and I have noticed a worrying trend. Some cycling groups (they usually appear to be from schools) use a trailing car which follows directly behind the group with an orange flashing light on the roof to slow all traffic down. I can understand their concerns for the safety of the cyclists but I think that the practice achieves nothing more than winding up drivers who now have a car and a bunch of riders to overtake. When this is happening along Tamaki Drive on a weekday morning, even as a cyclist my sympathies are with those who are trying to commute to work in their cars. The behaviour seems to be very inconsiderate, some would say even arrogant, but is it legal? Is it even legal to have a flashing light on a private car?
Katie Gormley, Auckland
Yes, it is, under certain circumstances. The Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, a very useful document, states in Part 8.5 (Use of Beacons) that a beacon must be approved before use.
