Your view: Is the ferry spin just a fairytale?

The MidWest Ferries presentation at Tuesday's council meeting left me concerned about disparities between what the advocates had to say and information the company has put on the public record since last year's pre-election publicity blitzkrieg.

The potentially environmentally disastrous impact of the plan to cut a channel through the Motueka Spit was dealt with in a once-over-lightly manner by the promoters. This was despite council special project manager Rowan McGregor being quoted as saying: "Midwest Ferries has undertaken to provide a business plan and an environmental plan by May 1, ascertaining the proposed ferry service's viability."

Neville Johnson was reported in the Chronicle just 12 days earlier that the feasibility study predicted an increase of 150 per cent in tourist bed-nights with only one ferry daily each way.

Tuesday's presentation made clear the single ferry proposal would cater only for trucks that would arrive in Whanganui, embark on the vessel and sail off into the sunset with, at best, the drivers picking up a sandwich on their way through town.

Much of the promotional spin that has persuaded people to part with more than $60,000 so far, and which has teased the council and its economic development arm into encouraging the promoters to come up with detailed business and environmental plans, appears to have been based on a significant potential boost to tourism especially via camper vans and backpackers.

Alas, according to the presenters on Tuesday, the prospect of actual people replacing even one truck on board won't appeal to potential funders so that's been dropped from the single-ferry proposal.

So, on May 4, there was no environmental assessment and no reasonable prospect of any tourism boost. The presentation also was silent on any potential support from Motukea-based Talley's, which was once being spruiked by Mr Johnson as the key customer.

Councillor Rob Vinsen wisely recommended the council "seek confirmation of interest from Tasman District Council and Talleys Group, which is a significant stakeholder in the Motueka Port".

Several decades have passed since Clayton Crowe worked his magic on our more gullible citizens and it's a decade since David Mack left the Laws/Warburton council red-faced and out of pocket.

If the current council is inclined to believe in ferries at the bottom of the garden, I just wish they'd learn to spell it properly.

CAROL WEBB, Whanganui

Anzac attitudes

I find the idea that Anzac Day should be exclusively about remembering those involved in wars, but not about ways to eliminate war very backward-looking.

I would have thought discussion, including protest, should be encouraged, so we could reach a point where wars were purely history and not always present.

As John Lennon sang, Imagine what the world could be like with no more wars. Admittedly it is a big ask and a huge culture change, but as the closest thing to intelligent life in the known universe, we should be able to sort out our lives for the benefit of the planet and all its inhabitants.

Yet most political parties seem only able to speak of a future of growth, growth and more growth, for money and more money. None of them seem capable of seeing, let alone explaining, how this is possible on a finite planet.

Growth means more people and resources, but already the planet is using resources way beyond sustainable levels for our 7-plus billion. All this also adds to CO2, which is something that will only exacerbate problems.

If they can't see the stupidity of this argument for "growth", they should open their eyes to see the unsustainability shown up by the international refugee crisis.

Climate change has the potential to be more destructive than any war in recent history. We know what to do to change this descent into chaos better than ever before, but it seems people don't want to know.

JOHN MILNES, Whanganui

Housing debate

In a general election period it is important for a mayor to retain neutrality. After all, the relationship he or she has with MPs is key for the benefit of the district.

I intend to walk a middle line over the next few months building a relationship with all candidates.

However, I was disappointed to read in the Chronicle (May 1) candidate Harete Hipango, responding to the Labour candidate Stephanie Lewis raising housing as an issue in Whanganui, cited that in a brief meeting I had with her I did not identify housing as a local issue, therefore Whanganui couldn't have a housing crisis.

First, council should not be a political football, and meetings with the mayor should not be utilised for electoral advantage.

Secondly, I am disappointed by the implication that I am unaware or ignorant of the housing issues - that couldn't be further from the truth.

Housing is an issue in Whanganui. We have residents sleeping rough and couch surfing, community housing providers stretched and, for the first time in a very long time, all our pensioner housing full with people wanting to go on a waiting list.

Renters are forced to line up with 40 others in the hope that they can find a fixed place to lay their head at night. Only this week I had a meeting with 10 different agencies where housing was the main topic of discussion. While our housing crisis looks different to Auckland's, it's still a crisis.

I hope Ms Hipango uses her candidacy to promote discussions within her party about the port redevelopment, decentralisation of government services and a better way to fund local government, and see her advocate for policies to achieve these ends.

HAMISH McDOUALL, Mayor of Whanganui District