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MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Letters to the EditorDevelopment poses threat
It is rather late in the day for Te Uri O Hau to be offering to gift some 130 and 172 hectares of coastal land in the area of Te Arai Point when much environmental damage has already been done. This hapu should never have sold coastal land for golf course development so close to fairy tern and other bird species habitat in the first place. The disturbance caused by the felling of pine trees, the smoking out of wildlife with the burn-off of wood waste and the use of explosives to scare off birds in order to establish the greens is hardly conducive to providing a safe haven for all bird life let alone fairy terns. As for the much-lauded programme of pest control, frankly I see little point in such activity if all that has been achieved is to replace one group of pests with the most destructive of all species, namely homo sapiens – yes, us! Do readers really believe that, having paid top dollar, golf course residents will modify their activities for the sake of a few birds? I think not. Moreover a golf course is hardly suitable habitat for any bird considering it’s lack of cover. I can well understand why Te Uri O Hau would wish to capitalise on it’s Treaty settlement but surely not at the expense of its role as kaitiaki – guardianship. There have always been alternatives to the exploitation of the Te Arai Point dune environment. What I find interesting is the offer of land coincides with the release of various reports of the very real threat posed to our coastal areas from sea level rise and tsunamis! What choices does Te Uri O Hau have when it comes to developing land within a potential hazard zone? After all, Sir Peter Gluckman, Chief Scientific Advisor to the New Zealand government has recently identified the links involved as a warning to local authorities. As a member of Forest and Bird and the Environmental Defence Society I do NOT support the decision to withdraw from the resource consent applicated for 46 lots in the relevant area. It seems to me that most of us are not prepared to make the decisions necessary to ensure the survival of the fairy tern for only by restricting public access, thereby preventing disturbance, is there a window of opportunity for these little birds to breed in peace. Department of Conservation take note! No wonder local conservation groups continue to oppose anything that increases human activity in the area. They have hands-on experience. Why can’t we, as a species, back off and respect other forms of life the right to exist? M B Hicks Ruakaka |
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