In an era of media centralisation and increasing "click bait" journalism, we need the opposite.
NELSON LEBO
Okoia
Cycle incident
A headline in the Chronicle, February 15, relating to a terrifying experience for a car driver is disappointing. The driver laid a complaint with police because several racing cyclists had passed her on the left of her vehicle as she was driving north into Whanganui.
This race from Wellington to Auckland is an extremely well organised event, meeting strict traffic management conditions. Each race is led by a lead car with signage and flashing lights. Because there are many groups of riders spread over several kilometres, specific support cars accompany these different age groups. Motorbikes provide addition support for riders, as well as indicating to public vehicles when it is safe to pass. A tail end car has signage warning drivers of the event.
Riders are briefed every day about road conditions and the need to observe all road rules. Any rider crossing the central white line risks disqualification. The ride is a timed event with recognition given to different age groups. Riders, in this instance, caught up the complainant's car, which was travelling very slowly. Riders knew not to pass on the right and cross the middle line so moved through on the left. They had little option.
Experienced drivers would have observed, in their rear vision mirror, riders approaching from behind. They would either speed up to stay ahead or would pull over to the left to let the group of riders through.
Perhaps because of inexperience, this complainant did neither.
To verify if the event managers and riders were complying with traffic management requirements I travelled up to the top of the Aberfeldy Hill on Wednesday morning to observe the race. All safety regulations were being observed and riders travelled well to the left.
LAURENCE SUNDE
Okoia
Greenies silent
People are fickle!
I was expecting to read about protests and outcries from tree-huggers and Greenies over the recent demise of some of the plane trees in Wilson St -- but no, nothing, zilch.
A far cry from all the hullabaloo, weeping and gnashing of teeth when the plane trees in Taupo Quay were removed.
Possibly, however, we've just matured.
DOUG PRICE
Castlecliff
Speed problem
I am an 82-year-old male and realise the chance of this letter being published isn't high, but one must try.
Firstly, I am appalled at the inconsiderate and ignorant high-speed motorists around this city. Will it take a death before the authorities take action?
One of the worst spots is Nixon St, Whanganui East, plus others. A cop on a motorcycle would pay his wages in a day.
Secondly, property speculators reaping a financial harvest: OK, you might say, but the down side to this is a larger section of our population will have no chance of ever owning their own homes.
Do we have politicians with enough moral fortitude to tax these speculators hard on their profits? I do wonder.
GARY WIGGINS
Whanganui East
Well done, Britt
I was glad to see, by his letter in the February 16 Chronicle, that Britt Bunkley enjoyed the humour of my congratulating him for proving Kate Stewart right.
I would like to congratulate him again for his February 16 letter, which again proved Kate's point, and also for his column against the merger of the two media giants in New Zealand.
There is an odd point in his letter when Britt says: "Protests are bad. The media is bad." I know Britt does not believe such a thing, and he knows that neither Kate Stewart nor I have ever suggested such an idea, although he appears to try to attach it to us both.
So I assume Britt was trying to show by parody how dishonest some in the media are being with their misrepresentations of people and their views. Well done again.
K A BENFELL
Gonville
Treaty principles
Maureen Anderson (letters, February 17) appears to have read little and understood less on the Treaty of Waitangi 1840, (Hobson). First, Maureen suggests there is another version, handwritten by Busby from Hobson's notes, otherwise unrecorded or reported -- the mythical "Littlewood" version, or final draft.
Second, that only by reading this, can we determine the true intent of the people who signed the Hobson version.
Thirdly, Maureen insists the true intent was unprincipled, with no agreement on any existing rights (worse than the defunct TPP). However, any agreement or contract (tort law) has at least one inherent principle, even if it's a surrender document (I win, you lose) or bill of sale (you get X when I get Y).
Maureen is one of a coterie of deniers on the same theme, who are unable to explain what a "principle" is, or means in English. They take the most illiberal view of the treaty, insisting on an interpretation that defies the reality of a time when Maori wouldn't surrender sovereignty to other more powerful iwi, let alone to a British presence dependent on them.
H. NORTON
Kaitoke
