Other questions: How do the miniature fishing submarines launched from the beach affect fish stocks? Do mussel farms have any effect on local fishing? What about plastic? It is stated that by 2050 there will be as much plastic (by weight) as fish. Are fish already being “starved” by consuming plastic?
I believe these issues need to be resolved - not just for snapper anglers, but the whole planet.
Stephen Wilson, Te Awamutu
New Zealand art
Every night on the Parliament television channel, we have a rare treat: hours of New Zealand art. Included are the Parliament, Wellington and Auckland City collections. Commentary is minimal, leaving the viewer to appreciate the works as they clip past. See enough of them and a couple of observations can be made.
New Zealand artists, especially recent ones, seem to be about capturing a moment, a sliver of emotion, a flash of colour, a quicksilver way to get the viewer to see something differently or to reflect on something, without letting the use of too much technique fog up the message.
Pure drawing and drawing technique, once the building blocks of all art, seem missing in action. Why? Drawing is famously disciplined. Does that make it too hard to learn or teach? Or are artists hoping for sales and careers fearful about lack of technique being exposed? To an outsider, and this writer is definitely that, drawing skills seem shunted aside, left to architects and animators – both of whom can flash up the iPad or Cad programmes – dodging what appears to be the most intimidating of all: a piece of paper and a pencil.
Denis Edwards, Papamoa Beach
Increase the fine
Randall Lockie is absolutely right that the $180 fine for a driver using a handheld mobile phone, up from a measly $80 fine, is stupid (Herald on Sunday letters, December 31). 46,000 drivers were fined last year, which means potentially 100,000 offenders, including those not caught.
The small fine is no deterrent. It must be the same as what Queensland has had for decades: a $1000 fine. Check the number of offending drivers caught there last year - I am sure it is only a fraction of our huge number. Please give us the $1000 fine for all of 2024 to drop said number.
Murray Hunter, Titirangi
Christmas loneliness
Shane Te Pou (Herald on Sunday, December 31) is part of a cultural group where large families are the norm and so company is seldom lacking. Finding himself somewhat alone over Christmas, he quite appropriately reflected on the lot of many others with no or smaller families and those often far away. Independent older persons of European descent are especially liable to be alone. Many still draw solace from RNZ. On Christmas Day, they were first regaled by a church service delivered largely in a Cook Islands language close to te reo Māori, then a protracted interlude of song in te reo. Then there was a multi-part programme The History of Jazz, which seemed to be in large part a vehicle for repeating unchallenged snipes at white supremacists. Hardly ideal Christmas fare.
Bob Culver, Avondale
Under-funded military
David Fisher has revealed the challenging assignment that Judith Collins has to bring our armed services up to scratch (NZ Herald, January 4). If David Seymour gets his way, the civilian gun lovers of the nation will soon be better equipped to fight a war than our under-funded military.
Arch Thomson, Mt Wellington
Matariki call for war commemoration
When should we commemorate the New Zealand wars, asks Rowan Light (NZ Herald, January 3). Matariki weekend seems more appropriate than the current October 28 alignment with the anniversary of the United Tribes signing the Declaration of Independence/He Whakaputanga. On June 17, 1843, the “Wairau Affray” was the first armed conflict between Māori and Pākehā settlers. June 21 is the winter solstice. Beginning sometime in June, Matariki is our indigenous version of the mid-winter tradition of reflecting upon our darkest hours and looking forward to the renewal of spring. As a great-great-grandson of Major Cyprian Bridge of the 58th Regiment, whose paintings and diary documented the Northern Wars, I am among those invested in the ongoing conversations about Te Pūtake o Te Riri – Wars and Conflicts in Aotearoa New Zealand. Matariki feels like the right time to confront and consider this aspect of our shared history.
Michael Smythe, Northcote Point
South African cricket
Paul Lewis (NZ Herald, January 4) writes, with unintentional irony given the more recent subsequent event of India bowling out the South African “A” test cricket side for a mere 55 runs, that their disreputable “C” side’s visit to play New Zealand shortly is somehow an affront to our national side’s capability. Looks like Hobson’s choice... when we might have stood an equal chance of beating their “best”.
Larry N Mitchell, Rothesay Bay
What is a liberal?
University academic Bryce Edwards earns a C pass for his political round-up (NZ Herald, January 3) about liberal and conservative values.
It is his confusion about democratic socialism being portrayed as liberalism that earns him that grade. Liberalism, I need to remind him, is based on the philosophers Locke, Bentham, Mill and others. They promoted the rights of the individual, not the collectivism of democratic socialism. A cornerstone was small governments and free markets.
Democratic socialists like to dress in other people’s clothing and call for inclusiveness and consultations, as expressed in the article. In my opinion, they have a top-down “we know what’s best” approach and a disregard for free speech, tolerance, civil society and equality – all liberal values.
Maybe they can learn from David Seymour and outspoken liberals regarding these values.
M Gourley, St Heliers
No colour in commentary
It’s evident the commentary over the TV coverage of the tennis at the ASB Arena is not being done from Stanley Street. Where is the colour? The analysis is limp at best, and the commentator clearly has little background knowledge (he declared Auckland NZ’s capital city and commented on the lights going on when the camera panned to the sun in the west). Pathetic.
Colin Rippey, Auckland
A rubbish decision
I have a playground in front of my house that had a rubbish bin available for park users. It has been removed as a cost-saving measure, as have many others on Waiheke Island. Inquiries to the council were made, and I was told the practice is widespread across Auckland. What a disgraceful thing to happen.
Jim Smithson, Onetangi
