Letter of the week: John Crockett, Kerikeri
A lot of words have been tossed around regarding the housing crisis, generating more heat than light. Congratulations to Fran O'Sullivan (Weekend Herald, February 27) for providing the best analysis of the problem to date, and what to do about it.
Her suggested remedies
would have immediate effect on cooling down the speculative market and giving first home prospective buyers a real opportunity to own their own home.
Needed, of course, as Fran indicates, is radical Government intervention to make it financially prohibitive for speculators to invest so heavily in property. Our Prime Minister will probably be remembered as Jacinda the Good, think Christchurch massacre, Covid, rather than Jacinda the Great, think child poverty, housing. Is it more important to hold on to political power or to take morally-based radical action to solve the housing crisis? The scales are clearly weighed on the side of caution and compromise.
More than words
I commend you on your choice of the letter of the week (Weekend Herald, February 27). Thank you for your commonsense approach to the problems we face.
Some time ago, I visited a very old grand heritage building still used as a family home. The home had been in the family for several generations. The owner proudly showed me the large crack in the solid plaster wall which was caused by the Napier earthquake. She said it was the only damage to the house and a reminder of how well-built her home had been to have withstood such a severe shaking. They had no plans to cover the damage.
Sadly it will take more than a letter to the editor for people to finally realise that time is running out for our beautiful planet and the need to change is now. I commend you for all your efforts to help people become aware of the issues we face.
Sandra Hansen, Hastings.
Absurd memorial
Thank heavens for Dame Naida Glavish's unequivocal stand (Weekend Herald, February 27) against the proposed Erebus memorial in Judges Bay/Mataharehare pa site. That local Maori do not oppose it has never been clearly established; and now we have a firm voice from a prominent representative of Ngāti Whātua and the Maori Heritage Council saying (in effect) "Please, don't do this!"
That the project should be going ahead on the basis of approval from a divided committee, and on the casting vote of that weak vessel Richard Northey, makes it more than ever absurd and lacking in firm authority. The site is of great historical significance to both Maori and Pakeha and should be sacred to both. It is one of Auckland's quiet beauty spots, and should not be ravaged by (to quote Dame Naida) this "huge monstrosity".
C K Stead, ONZ, Parnell.
Appropriate site
The site for the Erebus memorial was chosen after a long and deliberate process. Ngāti Whātua were among those consulted and consented to the project.
All the parties affected by the decision appeared before the Waitematā Local Board where they were given ample time to lodge their arguments, both for and against the memorial site. Interested people were allowed to appear in person and there was an extensive site visit by the board members. Ultimately, the board granted land consent that the small corner of the Parnell gardens was the appropriate site.
The continuing objections and unlawful protests planned by some are essentially anti-democratic, elitist and an abuse of process.
The minority group of Parnell elitists clearly have no intention of accepting any decision that doesn't align with their own agenda.
My grandmother was killed on that flight.
Lucy Miles, Parnell.
Concrete mass
I would like to support Dame Naida Glavish (Weekend Herald, February 27) in her opposition to the proposed Erebus memorial.
If I was killed in some tragedy, I feel it would be inappropriate to place a large memorial mass of concrete to spoil one of Auckland's precious views.
I cannot think of anything less appropriate, and there are many other areas where one could well be placed.
Dr Harold Coop. Remuera.
