Preserve Wynyard Pt
Imagine rounding North Head on a cruise ship and being able to see the equivalent of a Sydney Opera House in the distance beside Wynyard Wharf. Imagine catching a ferry from downtown to berth alongside to attend events in a multi-purpose building with fantastic acoustics for indoor concerts or outdoor, set in a huge grassed park, never to be sold for residential or commercial development. What a tourist drawcard all year round.
Although the prospect of watching America's Cup racing again in the harbour and beyond is thrilling, we have an obligation to future generations to preserve as much public leisure space around the waterfront as possible. One can only hope Grant Dalton will see the logic in this and compromise a little on the siting of team bases.
Coralie van Camp, Remuera.
Pontoons the answer
Extending Westhaven Marina would scarcely alter views of the harbour and, after the Cup, the extra berthage would be welcomed by local yachties.
But extending any wharf is unacceptable to most Aucklanders. Has consideration been given to providing accommodation for competitors at a few pontoons?
They would be infinitely cheaper than concrete, could be located to cause minimal obstruction to views and, best of all, would be temporary. After the contest they could be towed away until needed again in 2024 or dismantled and the proceeds returned to the city's coffers.
John Macmillan, Mount Eden.
Floating bases
Rather than build permanent wharfs, let's use floating barge-like structures tethered to the harbour floor.
These big, probably purpose-built floating infrastructures, would offer cost-effectiveness, flexibility and be suitable foundations for the Cup defence(s) and, unlike the costly Eden Park rebuild for the Rugby World Cup, wouldn't be a drag on the community in the event the Cup was lost.
John Yates, Takapuna.
No refugees
Why is Jacinda Ardern out to bring in queue jumpers when we cannot house our own people?
The Manus Island people would go to the top of the list for housing and displace our homeless. Emergency motel accommodation is no answer; fewer migrants will help.
These Manus people are not real refugees.
They have been offered repatriation to their lands by Australia or a move to a new detention facility.
Why should we take them and prevent real refugees coming? Refugees do not have the money to pay to be a boat person; they barely have enough for food.
John Laing, Drury.
Unwanted people
It is disheartening that our Prime Minister can moralise to our neighbour's leader regarding "unwanted migrants" on Manus Island. Ironic that she is the one planning legislation that will increase the number of "unwanted unborn babies" destroyed through abortion.
Phil O'Connor, Panmure.
Foreign affairs
We have two international clowns doing the traps. Jacinda Ardern is pushing the Manus Island issue when we have a housing and immigration crisis. Do we need 150 people rejected by our neighbour just so she can feel pious?
What is she going to do about the other 2.5 billion people in the world wanting to bail out of their countries? Humanitarianism has finite limits.
That other charlatan, Winston Peters, is off to North Korea. What worth can there be in that, apart from a holiday jaunt? He needs to be reminded he has work to do at the coal mine.
Rod Kane, RD Henderson.
Faulty forecasts
How can weather forecasting be so hopelessly inaccurate? At the start of this week, we were promised fine or partly cloudy weather for the entire week, no rain, and temperatures reaching 20C.
Two days later, we are dished up torrential rainfall, electrical storms and hail.
Mike Young, Riverhead.
Chinese influence
In September this paper ran a research article by Professor Ann Marie Brady on China's influence on this country.
On Tuesday this was reiterated with a warning of undue influence on our political system by donations and the acquisition of farms and the like. The previous government let this monster grow in the name of economic growth. Now we are left with a deluge of immigrants who, from all accounts, own too much of this country, which includes practically all Auckland rental properties.
The biggest concern is political influence that will surely come with their volume and financial ability. Brady is telling us to wake up before it's too late.
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Balance needed
Professor Brady is right in Matt Nippert's front-page report on Tuesday.
We need to safeguard against a non-democratic ascendant China in our backyard. Oz is way ahead of us on the China threat.
Blame John Key, he gave us the Yang.
Hopefully Winston will restore the Yin. Immigration is their "army". And that's why our three-way coalition affords a much wider view than National's "trust us" (yeah right) ever could.
Tony Kaye, Hamilton.
Dropping LVRs
It would be a mistake to drop the LVR rules for first time buyers.
These have contributed to restricting the housing market bubble and restoring a degree of normality. If they are dropped now prices will shoot up again and this will not help first home buyers.
What young Kiwi families need is not dangerously high debt levels but lower prices.
Otherwise, with any significant market correction or increase in interest rates, they will be in serious trouble.
Derek Wallwork, Takapuna.
We want the Cup
Here we go again. Some people oppose the extension of Halsey Wharf and the development of downtown Auckland, essentially depriving New Zealanders of a wonderful sporting spectacle, hundreds, if not thousands of jobs and millions of tourist and tax dollars.
I haven't yet been to Italy. I hear it's beautiful.
Maree Daw, Te Awamutu
Getting creative
Perhaps, Mr Mayor, you are doing this wrong.
You should have started the conversation by acknowledging you had pledged there would be no more waterfront capture and if that is what it takes to have the America's Cup, then Tauranga "how can we help", or Italy - "prego".
Yes, I understand the benefits the Cup brings but, Mr Mayor, you are a man of your word.
Perhaps if the people were confronted with this news they might engage differently, might suggest how we would host this instead of telling us why we can't.
Maybe our thinking people might dream up "floating temporary" instead of "fixed intrusive" or something else wildly creative but it would be a much better read at the start of my day than what I am reading now.
Michael Barnett, Chief executive, Auckland Chamber of Commerce.
