Maybe this is a good thing, as the electorate gets the chance to show what it thinks of many issues being decided by race rather than by need.
Like it or not, Harete Hipango is going to have to face this issue and show she is a New Zealander first and able to treat all in a fair and open manner.
This may be hard, as she is on a number of committees as an adviser on "things Maori".
Looks like it's going to be an interesting election.
TERRY O'CONNOR
Whanganui
Smoke, mirrors
The improvements to the Wharf St boat ramp may indeed be fantastic when completed, but why does our council want to single out boat users to pay ramp charges?
Are we also going to charge rod fishermen using council's fantastic concrete fishing platforms?
If councillor Charlie Anderson is truly concerned that the "struggling ratepayer" may be subsidising the extravagant lifestyles of boat users, why doesn't he show similar concern over the millions of dollars of rates that the same struggling ratepayer provides annually to subsidise the art community's enjoyment of Sarjeant Gallery, users of the Splash Centre, the museum, libraries, sports grounds, Opera House, Memorial Hall, botanic gardens and so on. These facilities pull huge money from rates every year and attract very little in the way of user charges.
The cost of the boat ramp upgrade is chump change by comparison.
For decades, our council ignored essential community needs, such as wastewater treatment, and it justified the huge spend on community facilities by optimistically pointing to increasing visitor numbers as the future financial salvation of the district -- a justification based mainly on smoke, mirrors and wishful thinking.
We know that, collectively, boaties and fishermen using the Wharf St ramp spend some serious money in the district to enjoy our great fishing and sometimes challenging boating opportunities. Arguably, the ramp upgrade will produce a better district-wide return on capital than any of the other facilities managed by council or its contractors and there will be no ongoing costs for council to recover.
Our council appears quick to exploit new revenue opportunities but seems to lack the perspective and balance needed to use rates in a manner consistent with community needs and priorities. Perhaps, rather than congratulating themselves for a 1.9 per cent rates increase, our councillors should cut spending in discretionary areas to ensure the struggling ratepayer can afford the cost of fixing our embarrassing wastewater disaster.
BILL SIMMONS
Whanganui
Typhoid
It seems that whenever there are a few cases of the measles around, we get told there is an epidemic, not to mention the scaremongering around the regular appearance of the flu.
Yet, when an outbreak of typhoid happens in our supposedly typhoid-free country, it is calmly described as an illness and the 15 or more cases are apparently no big deal.
It doesn't seem that many years ago when people, children particularly, regularly had the measles, while typhoid was spoken of with trepidation or in whispers.
Something has certainly changed.
K.A. BENFELL
Gonville
Whole mind
John Archer must know that the "whole mind" includes both left and right brains: logic and creativity together. The Bible is a collection of books of history, wisdom (philosophy/poetry), prophecy and letters of instruction. Some are written as a record, others as creative expressions of love and some as instruction.
A key to understanding the Bible is to know the book's genre. It is foolish to read a wisdom book as history or a history book as poetry (though now much prophecy is also history).
Similarly, trying to fit God's eyewitness account of creation into man's "natural processes only" conjectures won't work. Not because God's account is illogical, but because man's way presupposes no supernatural events.
Literal parts of the Bible (eg history) should be taken literally, even though this may be very uncomfortable for those who try to spiritualise and allegorise in order to make the message more "palatable".
Jesus referred to Adam and Eve as historical figures, there "from the beginning". Trying to marry the God of the Bible with evolution fails because a perfectly good God would never have used death to create (death is the destructive result of disobedience). Either God is (and we should humble ourselves before His infinitely superior wisdom and knowledge) or He isn't.
Throughout history people have found relationship with God, and chosen death rather than renounce Him, including disciples who knew the facts of His death and resurrection (who would die for a known lie?).
MANDY DONNE-LEE
Aramoho
Respectful river
Thank you, Whanganui River.
It's nice to see that, now you are a person, you are being very courteous to other people and not flooding our properties and homes.
Just wanted to let you know that we appreciate you for that and hope you continue to respect your fellow mankind as we respect you.
JAN ANDERSON
Whanganui East
Stopbanks
I have to support Bob Walker's letter (April 6) on his stand on the flooding of the river and how useless the stopbanks are.
If you put a flood stopbank wall up, you reduce the flooding flow of the water, which causes the water to rise up and overflows the bank.
This flooding is going to happen every year, so the only solution is to get rid of those houses along the flooding areas and move the road over in their place.
Now that the river has been made a person, all the owners should get together with a good lawyer and sue the Government and iwi who have allowed their family (the river) to flood these houses.
IAN BROUGHAM
Tawhero
