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MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Letters to the EditorUS patents cannabis The 1542 Herbalist Charter allows ordinary folk to grow their own herbs and not to place the growing of herbs only in the hands of the medical professional. We would argue that the issue is whether any country or corporation can legally patent a God-given plant. The argument rests on whether our government will allow a corporation or another government to have a legitimate claim to a monopoly on this plant and, if we do, then we have placed all plants at risk of access. Turmeric is currently at risk in NZ, and hereditary Maori usage of herbal remedies may also be placed under threat. The Indian government has legislated that all plants used as traditional medicines cannot be patented. There is much evidence that cannabis is a traditional medicine and has been for many thousands of years. All statements made by the previous government, of needing more evidence, have been deliberately misleading, as evidenced in the patent. All charges our ‘green fairies’ are currently facing for helping those sick people in need, should be withdrawn. A moratorium needs to be placed immediately on the persecution and/or prosecution of cannabis users and suppliers until the laws are changed to reflect our human right to grow and use herbal cannabis for health benefits. Beverley Aldridge/Kathleen Pattinson
Rogan for mayor I refer to the editorial in the last issue of the Focus when Rob Pooley comments on NZ’s obsessive fervour over elections. Surely elections are an integral part of the democratic process and are to be taken very seriously! I am very disappointed that Mayor Gent does not view matters in this way. He has displayed a cavalier and, some may say, a callous attitude to the whole electoral process in that he campaigned hard for the job of Mayor, was duly appointed, chose a deputy, fired the CEO and is now resigning a year into a three year appointment. Given the significant hurt that has occurred in Kaipara at the hands of the previous elected council and the contentious reign of commissioners (not elected) who outstayed their original brief (to the chagrin of many) I find this reprehensible. We do not know, of course, the real reason for Gent’s resignation so can only surmise that it proved not to be the part-time job he had envisaged when he committed to it. I agree with Rob Pooley that Bruce Rogan could take up the mayoral reins, though with a different and more favourable outcome predicted than his. Rogan was second runner in the mayoral race and he has had experience on council in the past. He has demonstrated in the last 10 years that his focus is very much on the well-being of Kaipara. He will not be daunted by the workload as he has worked tirelessly on this cause, out of office, for free. Yes, we should have another election, even though it will be expensive, but please Kaipara voters, vote for a person with commitment, passion, zeal and stick-at-ability. Barbara Pengelly
Land claim irony The Waitaha people claim to have inhabited New Zealand for more than a thousand years before the arrival of the Maori, yet those claims were rejected by the Tribunal on the grounds that they were only a sub-group of the Maori Ngai Tahu tribe. That decision is very much at odds with Waitaha accounts that tell of widespread slaughter, cannibalism and enslavement of their ancestors by the bloodthirsty newcomers. Oral evidence by Waitaha was invalidated, yet conflicting Maori verbal claims were accepted as fact. The leader of the even earlier Patuparaiehe people suffered similar treatment, being told at a Tribunal hearing to "Sit down and shut up" as she “didn't exist”. The above events are covered in detail in John Dudley Aldworth's excellent book Forbidden History – a book that includes first hand accounts from the current leaders of the few thousand survivors from both of those earlier inhabitants – a book that reveals a very different early NZ history from the sugar-coated politically correct drivel that the Waitangi Tribunal would have us believe. Ngapuhi (and other) claims for redress for “suffering” due to Treaty breaches pale into insignificance when compared with the sufferings of the tangata whenua first peoples as their tribes were all but annihilated. Maori land claims held in the Waitaha Conference Centre? What an oxymoronic travesty. Mitch Morgan
Gent made it clear he considered he could and would hold down his directorships and that he regarded the Mayoralty would be a part time position. Gent knew exactly what he was saying and doing during his campaign for Mayor. He has not resigned due to ill health, therefore voters and ratepayers who have been paying his wages deserve and warrant an explanation for his resignation. Gent also needs to show personal responsibility for his actions and pay for an unnecessary by-election which is adding further to the debt of the KDC. Indeed if one of the current councillors should stand for the position as Mayor and be successful, we will of course be facing two by-elections. A great legacy I must say. Beverley Revell
Mini Ice Age? In his book Dark Winter, John L. Casey, a NASA scientist, has forecast crop failures around the planet in the coming years. Piers Corbyn, a British astrophyicist and meteorologist and brother of Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the British Labour Party, has forecast much the same. Many other scientists from around the world are also coming on board with the same predictions. Already, crops are failing in Russia, Europe, Canada, the United States and Australia. Fruit and vegetable crops have failed in the United States and Europe, chickpeas in Canada, corn frozen on stalks in Dakota, and wheat crops in Russia, and 10,000 hectares of apples, cherries and strawberries have been destroyed in Germany, and that is just the start! People in northern climes have been told to get out of their homes now while they still can, before ice crushes their homes, and they are unable to move. Along with this, we are told to expect more severe volcanism and more severe earthquakes. Millions of people, perhaps billions, will die from lack of shelter and cold! Could all of this be true? Our food prices are rising already. Perhaps we will ignore it at our peril! Kevan G. Marks
Thanks DOC Once more we can all enjoy this lovely walk and forget our troubles for a while. The far end of the track has been re-routed further inland where the slip occurred which should solve any further problems in the future. This walk is very very special and is enjoyed by many people young and old, and on a very clear day the views out to sea are second to none in Northland. When it is extra clear the snow capped Patagonian Mountains can be just seen if you stare long enough! I would like to add that there is still the problem of dog owners insisting on taking their dogs up there even though there are signs saying dogs are prohibited. This causes all sorts of bad feelings and somehow we have to get this problem solved as picking off the no dog signs is not going to make it go away. The track passes through private land and is administered by DOC. There is an easement from the landowners to make the cliff walk possible. They have a huge vote of thanks from me. Thank you DOC. Peter Farrell
Support local food Raw Milk Mangawhai milks a little herd of 35 cows that keep their calf and horns, mate naturally when they want to, and stay on the farm from birth to retirement until their natural deaths. The land gets no chemicals added, nor do the cows, and the small healthy herd need only very few medical interventions. Industrial milk farming is a completely different set up – herds of a thousand cows, trimmed for the highest output needing a lot of chemicals and healthcare. This way of farming is the main polluter of our waterways. Monitoring the hygienic standard when milking herds of a thousand and more animals is not easy. Therefore, high testing standards are essential. But, what bureaucratic nonsense to apply regulations for holistic farming that is created to manage certain levels of health standards for industrial milk production? With such regulations holistic farming is under heavy attack. The amount of money and paper workload is unbearable. Milking a herd of 35 cows can be done safely and hygienically because the farmer can easily control the health security themselves. Industrial milk production is not sustainable. We need to keep and develop the knowledge of holistic farming. Instead of nasty bureaucratic treatment the government should be supportive. When the government wants additional testing done for such little herds it should be done at their expense! A locally grown organic food supply is an important part of a town for the future. Lifestyle blocks and rural farming need to be integrated into our Mangawhai community plan. The residential zone, the holiday business, the commerce, locally grown food, direct marketing and farmer market are all related to each other. Without considering all of this we can’t get the sprit and will not develop the magic of Mangawhai nor get a clean estuary. The current Draft Mangawhai Community Plan is limited to the residential area. The highlight will be a slow street from the school to the surf beach with four new roundabouts. The walk and cycle tracks will only be finalised when the current school kids have their own children. Instead of expensive roundabouts we should immediately build tracks for active movement, for walking and cycling. And when we like to drink real milk, and like to eat local cheese we will need not one but 10 holistic row milk farms with little herds around Mangawhai and we, the government and the councils should support everyone who takes the risk to do so. Local food supply is an integral part of a modern town. Christian Simon
I contacted The Whangarei District Council to look into the problem and remove the existing rubbish wherever possible. They came and had a look and were also disgusted, however nothing positive has happened as yet. This area is a very special forest of pristine mature Kauri trees which, to outward appearances, seem to be resisting ‘kauri dieback’. If it is destroyed through this behaviour then we lose it forever. I visited the area again today and decided to haul some of the junk out of the forest where it had been dumped over the banks. I wanted to achieve visibility to passing motorists and it certainly achieved that and they were absolutely appalled at what they saw. The stench was very strong as dead pigs had also been thrown over the banks and added to what can be only described as a disgusting scene. I had a choice as to be like everyone else and just drive past saying "Not my problem" or to try and do something about it. I chose to do something about it. Our roadsides are becoming rubbish heaps and we either ignore it or we collectively solve the problem. I love the Mangawhai area and it has been my home for a while now so I am prepared to fight to keep it special. How does everyone else feel? Peter Farrell
Dumped rubbish also included pig carcass |
Disgusted by dumping
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