Like many rural property owners, we feel it isn't so much the $50 charge, it is the thousands we have already paid up front to not burden another unpopular, hastily-built and expensive treatment plant - especially when the city ratepayers were not considered worthy enough to be informed of the financial outcome following the expensive litigation against the previous treatment plant designers.
The mayor's request for rural ratepayers to view it as a "contribution" to the council's (self-made) disaster fund comes across as a bad April Fool's joke.
But I know he wasn't joking as the council also tried to charge us 50 per cent of the annual water rate even though we are not connected to the city scheme.
That was until I showed the rates department that in their own obscure rules they were not entitled to extort a half-charge to non-connected rural property - even though they had been getting away with it for years.
JON MEDLICOTT, Durie Vale Road
Guarding territory
Why do Maori make up 50 per cent of the prison population?
As prison chaplain, I sometimes asked Maori inmates: "Did you do it?" Interestingly the reply was usually: "Of course."
At primary school I remember how when we were picking sides for a game at playtime, a Maori boy frequently suggested: "Maori against Pakeha."
In a conversation with Ken Mair, he explained Maori do not have fixed negotiated boundaries like Pakeha, but think in terms of areas occupied by an iwi. That is, in fact, a very ancient way of mapping the land.
And think of the haka - to Pakeha it is a spectacle, a curiosity, an entertainment, but to Maori a war dance intended to intimidate people who are intruding on an iwi area.
With the basic idea of territory in mind, it is easy to see how the gang culture developed. They are groups who set out to occupy their territory and intimidate any who challenge them.
Pakeha live in a very different world. We go to school where we learn - the aim is to acquire skills and gain qualifications that will lead to worthwhile jobs.
But we are seeing people who seem to just drop out of school.
Despite their years there, they don't know anything, can't do anything and live on a benefit.
We go to church to learn how to be "good".
Instead of departmental gods of Maori - sea, forest and so on - we learn one god rules all and guides us into ways to live together in harmony.
And then in prison we meet the offender and demand the Corrections Department put everyone right.
Corrections offer heaps of corrective courses and opportunities to grow, but it is hard to turn a lifetime of crime around.
From a Corrections point of view, the men and women we see have been failed by their parents, failed by the school, failed by the church, too, sometimes.
So if Maori are going to live crime-free lifestyles, it is the iwi who must help their children to succeed in the very different world they have to face in the 21st century.
TOM PITTAMS, St John's Hill
Bring Cup back
A few days out from the opening of America's Cup race and Emirates Team New Zealand has a major setback and is on the back foot already.
I joined Team New Zealand in 1996 and I am their 116th member.
If our team doesn't win this time, I may have to wash my hands of them.
But I have faith in our guys, so pull yourselves together and bring the cup home to New Zealand. In 2013 in San Francisco your loyal Kiwi fans were let down so just do it guys and bring the old mug back home.
GARY STEWART, Foxton Beach
Spot the eras
I recently red with ammusement about the Grammar Vigelantes and there campaign to erradicate incorect grammar in print and on signage. Possiblly shopkeeper's delibberateley make erors and misstakes in there signs and bilbords sew that potential customer's will come in and point out there misstakes.
Allso, carrying out clandestyne acshuns too corect these signs could bee clarsed a crime - deefacing uther people's property.
If your thinking youd like too corect incorect grammar, how about spending sum tyme corecting the obviuos erors in this letter.
I just hope the Chronicles' edditor hasnt beeten you too it.
DOUG PRICE, Castlecliff
Not on sale
I was delighted to learn that my out-of-town visitors were able to participate with me in the Bridges Walk on Sunday morning.
So, armed with information, we set off for a shopping spree on Saturday morning and the purchase of tickets.
Unfortunately, that was not possible. Despite "ON SALE NOW" (see page 27, Property Guide) none of the mentioned businesses were open for business.
Most disappointing, and - as you may guess - we did not participate.
RAEWYN DRINKWATER, St John's Hill
