Letters to the Editor

 

Supporting mangroves
In the April 15 issue of the Mangawhai Focus, Julia Wade appears to be a victim of misinformation when it comes to writing about mangroves. According to many notable scientists mangroves support a vast eco-system of fish breeding grounds, trap sediment, absorb pollutants and provide habitats for birds including the secretive banded rail. Perhaps most important of all, in view of climate change, they provide a carbon sink. Indeed, mangroves are reported to be the most of all tree species in this ability to store carbon dioxide. If anyone wants to increase an areas carbon footprint they can do no better than to destroy mangroves. Is this really what we want?

All this information is supported by scientific observation and research by marine biologists such as Dr Roger Grace, Dr Sharon da Luca and Kennedy Warne, founder and former editor of NZ Geographic and others.

New Zealand’s most endangered bird, the fairy tern, has already had its feeding grounds disturbed and almost destroyed by untimely dredging in the past. Shorebirds will likewise feed on the fringes of mangroves. They too are under threat, facts of which Julia Wade seems to be unaware. The estuary is not just for recreation.

May I remind readers that Mangawhai Heads, especially Wintle Street, used to be clear of housing development. How come it is in order for us to destroy the natural environment but it is not acceptable for mangroves to colonise the estuary? This is despite the fact that they support wildlife, improve water quality and help mitigate climate change. Do houses do that? After all, it has been our poor land management which has resulted in the proliferation of mangroves in the first place. Think about it!

Margaret B Hicks
Ruakaka


Balanced view
Thank you for publishing the article about fairy terns and mangroves (Focus, April 29) which gave a balanced view of the issues.

No one wants to see the whole harbour covered with mangroves, but nor do we want to see large machines in the harbour causing major damage to the sea bed. Most experts agree that silt caused by run-off from the surrounding land is what causes mangrove to expand and they do trap silt and prevent it spreading throughout the harbour.

Riparian planting has been shown to stop erosion and prevent silt entering the harbour, as has been done successfully at Raglan. There is a small riparian planting group in Mangawhai who have been working around the area for some years now. You can see some of their work by the community gardens and by the bridge to nowhere. But much more needs to be done.

How about the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society putting their huge resources of manpower and money ($80 per year from all Mangawhai ratepayers) towards a concerted riparian planting programme?

Heather Rogan
Convenor, NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust 


Healthy debate
Just like to say huge respect for having the guts to print that piece in this political climate.
I'm sure it has stirred up much controversy and debate, and that is a most healthy thing.

Rob Smith
Whangarei


Holy days or holidays
Why to some Holy Days and some just holidays? The answer to your question is both simple and complex.
We Christians believe in Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God gave a richness of symbolism in the first passover feast to be remembered perpetually by the Jews. 

God being eternal is the very embodiment of love, truth and justice while a spiritual battle rages in the unseen realm which affects every soul on earth. Whether we believe it or not and whether we accept the truth does not change reality. 

The answer to why some consider Judeo-Christian Holy Days and others see no relevance lies in the fact that some accept God as the one true God, others have turned to false gods and alternative religions – yes even the religion of self being god. Others still are yet to unravel their big questions and come to understand there are real answers in the good news of Jesus.

Some prefer perpetuating the pagan alternative of people in bunny suits delivering easter eggs and others do nothing and consider not where Good Friday really began. Truth hasn’t really changed, its just man is determined to re-arrange it. 

I consider Good Friday and the resurrection of Jesus as the greatest event in history thus far. This is recorded in the Bible which remains the most authentic, historically accurate book we have. But alas we live in a time when truth is being trashed – God’s word metaphorically, and in many countries literally, burned and outlawed. 

In the very beginning Adam walked with God in Eden but eventually ate of the forbidden fruit of The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and was sent with Eve to work the land now affected by sin and death. In all Adam’s freedoms he chose the one thing God had warned him not to do. We consequently are affected by evil, death and decay all around. Having this knowledge of good and evil, we also possess free-will to choose which path to travel.

The predicament is our own goodness is never enough because we are already corrupted by evil – the incorruption of Christ is essential to our salvation. Here we see God’s abundant love for His creation and desire for all to be saved through offering the free gift of Jesus. 

If the Jews can remember the Passover for the past 3400 years I think it’s worth considering for more than a moment the significance of it all.

Marita Greenway
Mangawhai

(Abridged)