I have spent many thousands of hours planting and caring for trees predominantly to encourage birds on to my back doorstep encouraged by the late Muriel Fisher who I met propagating plants in the '80s. Her property is a small remnant of native bush, Kauri Glen in Birkenhead.
The fruits of my endeavour are regularly dropped on my head as tūī come to chortle and watch my grandson swing in a pūriri tree. Unfortunately, I think drought has caused the three kererū to disappear or their food supplies may have been cut down; mature pūriri, taraire, karaka being replaced with the concrete jungle?
Who studies these trees and the birds that spread their seeds? The Minister of Conservation should be sponsoring research on our trees. Clearly, Auckland Council prefers to listen to a crooner sing a song once for just under a million. Many will rue the day birdsong disappears in Auckland.
When I was young, the morning chorus was deafening. Now the deafening morning chorus is one of chainsaws and hammers. We should conserve what we have left before it is too late.
Steve Russell, Hillcrest.
Cost / benefit
Five million dollars may be a drop in the bucket to the likes of Robertson and the Prime Minister (NZ Herald, March 19) but it is only the tip of the iceberg as far as what the costs to taxpayers and ratepayers will be. I find myself unable to argue with the Greens spokesman when he says it is a strange decision when there are so many children living in poverty.
We have assertions that holding the 37th Cup defence in Auckland will be a money-spinner but we've not seen any evidence the 36th defence profited the country other than a feel-good euphoria for the masses and massive publicity for the Government.
Surely it is reasonable for both the Government and Auckland City to provide detailed and audited accounting which demonstrates exactly what benefits have been accrued to those who have actually paid the costs before more public money is poured down the particular rat hole of what is essentially the plaything of billionaires?
This is after all what any business organisation would be required to do in the interest of its shareholders.
Rod Lyons, Muriwai.
Black magic
The America's Cup is often criticised for being "a rich man's" sport. But it is difficult to ignore the extent to which it is a team sport. The cup could not have been won without the helmsman, sailors, tacticians, grinders, technicians, support staff, engineers, boat builders, designers, and sponsors to name a few. A tremendous effort by hundreds of people to harness New Zealand ingenuity, hard work and determination, and win (again) against billionaires on the world stage.
Your legacy is huge and lasting - from inspiring youngsters who want to sail a boat to our million-dollar boat-building industry.
Congratulations Team New Zealand and Te Rehutai. It was just magic watching you sail into history.
Jennifer Jones, Devonport.
Pier review
Simon Wilson (NZ Herald, March 19) captured Wayne Brown's move-the-port pitch to the assembled big end of towners perfectly.
That neither council nor cabinet have read his report underlines how tragically this tall poppy syndrome and special interests plays out against the public's interest.
That 40 per cent of Auckland's imports already come through Port of Tauranga, that only 8 per cent of the country's exports actually leave via Auckland; that the growth in bridge traffic is largely trucks with actual commuter car numbers flat or dropping due to public transport. If you remove the heavy trucks you don't need to blow 3 billion-plus on a new bridge.
Taking out the trucks servicing the port, with half their journeys empty, and you can decongest clogged arterials and the massive loss in efficiencies that come with it.
That's before you count the huge gains environmentally; no harbour dredging and Gulf dumping, recreationally and culturally the city would gain by reclaiming this precious piece of harbour frontage from the ugly non-rate and dividend-paying industrial eyesore it is.
It's not a question of how much to move the port, but how much it costs us to keep it here.
Phil O'Reilly, Auckland Central.
Simon Wilson once again presents his well-worn case (NZ Herald, March 19) for moving the port operations to Northland, but it would help if he balanced his article with some opposite points of view.
Auckland consumers and shipping companies benefit from the competition between Auckland and Tauranga as the costs of vessel operations are kept in check and the proximity of POAL to the end-users keeps transport costs down as well.
The proposed benefits to Auckland from moving the port will quickly be eroded by the increased costs involved in the double handling of imported cars and containers and the high cost of moving goods by rail and road from Northport to Auckland via an inland terminal. There also appears to be an assumption that the Government will finance a new port plus the massive infrastructure required then hand it over to private operators, who at this stage can't tell us if it would be any more profitable than POAL.
The question of greenhouse emissions caused by trucks and trains carting all this freight to a growing city is conveniently overlooked along with the fact that rail, at its best, would only handle 80 per cent of the container traffic leaving the balance to be carried by road resulting in further congestion on an already busy road system.
Gavin Baker, Glendowie.
Curtain-raiser
Those admonishing our Government for allowing priority entry into New Zealand of international acts like the Lion King may find this a bitter pill to swallow.
Far more Kiwis want the cast and crew of such productions to come here than want someone else's uncle, aunt, or brother. Your long lost relative has had a year to organise coming home.
It is time to bring in international entertainment and events that will benefit the mental health and sanity of far more New Zealanders than old uncle Bob who's been living the high life overseas for the past decade.
Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
Chip and fail
I can sympathise with C. Johnstone (NZ Herald, March 18) over the resealing of Shelbourne St.
Salisbury Rd was recently rechipped. Contractors swept up loose stones several days after the work was completed but now we have gravel footpaths. Parents using pushchairs are avoiding the street. Riding scooters is impossible.
With passing vehicles throwing up loose stones, children walking to and from school are being hit by flying metal. You can hear stones pinging off parked cars and full body armour is needed if you venture past the primary school at the top of the road while the groundsman is using his ride-on mower on the verge.
Matt Elliott, Birkdale.
Short & sweet
On Burling
A fabulous photo of Team New Zealand on the front page (NZ Herald, March 18) and, inadvertently, a fabulous advertisement for icebreaker undies. Priceless. Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
On housing
Instead of building houses, how about the Government starts by buying properties in each suburb and then charging income-related rent? That would burst the property bubble and suddenly make a lot of properties and tradesmen available. Jeanette Andrew, Raumati South.
On bubble
In view of their Government's appalling policy of deporting their criminals to New Zealand, and their long history of shabby treatment of New Zealanders living in Australia, I wouldn't holiday in Australia if they paid me. Chris Elias, Mission Bay.
On MIQ
When it comes to prioritising entry for international acts like Lion King over returning citizens, at least we know the former group will be sure to pay for their stay in MIQ. Morgan L. Owens, Manurewa.
How about giving the members of the Lion King cast visas on the condition they spend three weeks in isolation on a farm in Hawke's Bay picking fruit? Mike Wells, Kawerau.
On vaccine
It is galling that honest, hardworking Kiwis under the age of 65, who are contributors to society, must await their jab until after prisoners are fully vaccinated. Pat Taylor, QSM, Tauranga.
On Queenstown
Queenstown did not want any MIQ facilities. Is that still the case? Does Queenstown still want to keep "dying"? Grant McLachlan, Mahurangi.
On Monopoly
There is absolutely no place for the, "You've won second prize in a beauty contest" card in the game of Monopoly. We should not be teaching our children mediocrity. Lol. Carl Bergstrom, Glendowie
