Is this money grab to prop up something we do not yet know about? Why is it so important to take the money from the Wharf St slipway users?
The money blown by the council on Wharf St in the last year has done nothing for the boaties. Great for people in cars wanting to turn around at the top of the slipway when they come for a look.
BRUCE EDWARDS
Whanganui
Great show
I attended the Repertory Theatre's production of The Pohutukawa Tree and thoroughly enjoyed it.
That was the first time I have seen one of their plays, and it won't be the last. I commend everyone involved in this production and would urge anyone who likes to be involved in the arts, especially live theatre, to go along and support them. There are three more chances, today, tomorrow and Saturday.
I read Laurel Stowell's review in the paper (Chronicle, May 8) and felt she omitted to mention two young boys who put in an amazing performance in their first time on stage: Jamie O'Hagan (Queenie's boyfriend) and Ronan Shaw (Aroha's son). Two friends who attend Cullinane College and gave their very best effort and brought their respective parts to life.
They deserved a commendation and Repertory Theatre will be hoping they front up for a part in their next production.
Once again, well done to everyone involved.
PAULA RODGERS
Castlecliff
Aramoho School
Re the letter by Pam Noyes about homeless people using Aramoho School: I don't think it would be a good idea. The classrooms would be too big for one family to live in. There would have to be a lot of work done on it before people could live in it, like dividing classrooms into bedrooms, laundries, rewiring, putting in kitchens etc.
Who is going to look after the buildings? It would need to have a caretaker, as the people living there wouldn't look after them.
As it is owned by the Crown, it should be pulled down before it is vandalised.
It should be turned into a housing estate, where the Government should put up houses to rent or perhaps houses to buy for first home buyers.
IAN BROUGHAM
Tawhero
Bible stories
Russ Hay (letters, March 24) said the stories about the birth of Jesus in the Bible are examples of Bible contradiction.
Indeed, some scholars say that they are pious Christian legends from late in the first century. But there may well be an historical truth behind them.
In Jewish thought of the time, a young married lady remains a virgin until she has "seen blood". That is, until she has her first period. So if she conceives on the occasion of her first ovulation, she will have had a virgin conception.
The Christian writers, Matthew and Luke, hearing of a virgin conception, would take it to mean a conception without sex, a miracle wrought by God.
It is true their stories are very different. However, they may be seen as writing theoretical stories showing how the miracle may have come about. There are many examples in science where researchers suggest theories to be examined further.
TOM PITTAMS
Whanganui
No gender bias
I have listened to all the 9th Floor interviews of former Prime Ministers by Guyon Espiner of Radio NZ with great interest.
It was with some interest, then, that I read the article by Nicholas Jones you printed. I was dismayed to read the distortion and frankly false assertion he makes about gender bias that came out of the interviews.
With Jenny Shipley, Guyon had asked her, as the Minster of Welfare, whether she got the reforms of the welfare system that she wanted or whether Ruth Richardson (the Minister of Finance) had influenced any.
Jenny Shipley chose to deflect the question into one about gender bias rather than accept that the Minister of Finance holding the Government purse strings could, and often did, dictate what could be achieved.
Indeed Jenny Shipley never clearly answered the question. The gender bias was that of Jenny Shipley's, no one else.
The interview with Helen Clark never once touched on gender issues and only briefly raised the issue of the southern bumper sticker, which Ms Clark correctly categorised.
Her reference to the impact of political life is that of being a politician, not a woman, and I have heard male politicians say exactly the same thing.
I find it offensive when people with an axe to grind find prejudice under every rock. All the people interviewed got the position due to their capabilities and ability to move in political circles. They lost those positions for essentially the same reason. Gender had little to do with it.
In Helen Clark's own words: Move on.
MURRAY SHAW
Bastia Hill
Genesis no myth
Contrary to Derek Archer's claim, biblical writers treat Genesis as history; the grammar and style of Genesis 1:1 -- 11 is consistent with other historical passages. Hebrew scholar Dr Stephen Boyd: "Different types of verb ... are frequent in Hebrew poetry, but not in historical books. So from verb analysis the probability that Genesis 1:1 -- 2:3 is narrative (not poetry) is 0.99997." (S W Boyd, A proper reading of Genesis 1:1 -- 2:3).
"Similarity of other writings to the biblical narrative affirms, rather than discounts, its accuracy. Research indicates monotheism pre-dates polytheism." (Wilhelm Schmidt, The Origin and Growth of Religion, Cooper Square, New York, 1971).
The "waters above" are those very waters that were released on the earth in the global flood, hence gone before rockets left our atmosphere.
Paul Evans is trying to eradicate the innate belief in God, inborn in his granddaughter. I hope that instead she may be able to lead him to the God he claims to be looking for.
Jesus warns: "If anyone causes one of these little ones -- those who believe in me -- to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!"
God is easily found by those who humbly seek, but hidden from those elevating intellect above truth.
MANDY DONNE-LEE
Aramoho
There's only here
While watching the shocking documentary Plastic Ocean, about pollution, one line brought home to me our tragic attitude to waste: "There is no 'away'."
In Whanganui it seems out of sight is still out of mind. Due to our failed treatment plant, we flush "away" our faeces into the sea. A situation that many citizens think should be the de facto approach.
Where does our landfill go? It is thrown "away" into the neighbours' backyard (Rangitikei), where it is leaching toxins into the environment. Most of it, sadly, is unnecessary disposable rubbish, showing just how flawed our attitudes are all the way up the chain.
It was enthusing to see the efforts to conserve Kokohuia. This culturally and environmentally important wetland filters ground water returning to the sea and is a part of our natural stormwater defence system. Alas, it is also the site of our last landfill, still leaking pollutants and methane into the land, water and air.
Whanganui is the gateway to the sea for a catchment area of over 7000sq km. We should do all in our power to care for our waterways, because their health is our health. With the river's recent, internationally groundbreaking legal protection, we have something to be truly proud of -- as long as we make good on that commitment.
As individuals, it can be hard to effect change, as a collective, however, we have power.
WDC supports some eco-initiatives but not others (e.g. kerbside recycling, banning single-use plastics). It needs to show greater vision and lead by example, if we truly want to make a difference.
The idea of "Whanganui Eco-City", can only help us thrive and grow in terms of health, wealth and mana and, in doing so, contribute positively to the big picture. There is no "away"; there is only "here", the inter-connected planet we all live on.
NEIL BUDDLE
Gonville
Serial complaints
Why has the council never responded to the numerous public requests for levels of gases it creates under its consent to emit via the wastewater treatment plant?
Why do our elected councillors not advocate this information to be imparted when hydrogen sulphide causes asthma, hay fever coughs and watery eyes?
Last week was asthma awareness week. Whanganui has the worst rates in the country, consents are given to emit gases that cause asthma and the only monitoring done is a sniff test in working hours, even for night-time smells. It is supposed to be conducted by six people who are non-smoking, not pregnant and have not consumed coffee in the previous hour, according to the court documents.
What problems were caused by the 8-10 year misjoined sewer/stormwater pipes ? Did this contribute to the 2015 flood? If there were no problems it would not have required fixing.
Serial offending creates serial complaining.
ROBYN O'DONNELL
Castlecliff
