Letters to the Editor
Electrosmog is real thanks to 5G.
Neera Giri resident of Whitianga, Lives near a 5 G tower. The Informer was sent some photos of high frequency radiation measurements on her EMF device. We have included only one here plus an explanation of what measuring high frequency radiation is.
From Neera, “With my device I can measure the frequency pollution we have to live with. I have included a link for readers. These are the visual readings from Moewai bus stop where children congregate. Nothing gets done about the harm these 5G towers are causing. The birds have moved out of my Totora tree. The totara tree that was full of birds has no birds roosting in it now - and I was happy when I got back from India - and now after three months I’m struggling with tinnitus and headaches and depressed thoughts without the wild life that used to flood my back yard. Half the tree is brown and the other half is green.
The readings I take are high and give us vertigo, depression, tinnitus and there are other consequences for people.
Neera Giri
Whitianga
Thank you for Mother’s Story
Thank you, Diane Morreel, for your beautifully written, "A Mothers Story" 16 May 2023.
I read it with tears in my eyes. Just envisioning the whole scenario, it certainly brought things into perspective of modern-day military life. And made me rethink about the past.
I am deeply saddened that your son had his right to carry the flag in our local ANZAC parade taken from him, and last minute, no warning. He was and still is the most deserving person to take on the role. I am angry that the RSA and the parade organizers allowed this to happen. I would like to know what gave the other person the right to take the flag from a returned, injured serviceman. A huge thank you to your son. Continue to be a proud mother. All the best to you all.
Jackie Courtenay,
Whitianga
Dear Editor
Further to Neera Giri letter to The Informer 14 March 2023, reminds me of a conversation I had with the late Richard Simpson, Richard said “we must have and keep our green park areas” that made me think, what a great opportunity to turn Hilton Park into a massive arboretum. Horticulture experts could advise on the type dwarf trees and shrubs that would be suitable, what a colourful sight it would be, if the residents of Mercury Bay are in agreement, I would donate $1000 to the cause, let’s see where this goes.
DJ Coates (John)
Whitianga
Mussel Farm buoys scattered on the beach.
It was Tuesday, 11 May. We were travelling south in our campervan on the Thames Coast Highway. It was early in the morning. From our higher viewpoint in the campervan, we could see a small fleet of mini trucks picking up mussel buoys. The trucks were the size of small utes but the buoys are big, so only four buoys could fit in the trailer of the truck. We counted fifty buoys, but there were many more and the workers were in the middle of their assignment.
We thought, ‘How many more buoys are still out there? if this was on the East coast, where would they land?’ The bigger question was, ‘What happened to allow these buoys to arrive on a Thames Coast Highway Bay in such large numbers?’ There is a lot of local tension about the pros and cons of Mussel Farming especially the apparently soon to be Spat Farm. We notice this community is disputing the commencement of that Spat Farm. Perhaps the local authorities and Waikato Regional Council should not be so quick to facilitate companies or trusts setting up spat farms, mussel farms or king fish farms, if this kind of thing is going to happen. We are not involved in any for or against arguments, about these farms, but this is pollution. There had not been a storm the two days before, so what caused these buoys to wash up and for so many to be scattered like this?
Gary
Campervan traveller on Coromandel
Take your lawyer before your life jacket.
Dear Ed,
I would like to invite someone, anyone, from the council to take a drive south down Albert Street. Don’t turn right down by the school. No, no, just drive straight ahead down a street called Robinson Road. If you continue on, you’ll come to a boat ramp. Yes, true. There really is a boat ramp there. In fact you guys built it. Yep, really! I guess this comes as a big surprise but it’s been a real money spinner for you guys. We pay $115 a year to use it. Others pay $30 a day. Not bad money eh?
I remember at the meetings you held before you built this facility where you proudly announced that for a nominal annual fee, you would maintain the boat ramp. Well, we have stuck to our part of the deal even though the nominal fee has increased almost 50%, but you haven’t come to the party.
Sure, you've used a lot of the money emptying the rubbish bin at the top of the ramp and putting signs on drains telling us not to put fish frames down there and an awful lot of “no parking” signs on posts but the ramps themselves have largely been ignored. At the moment, both sides are covered in timber and assorted rubbish. This constitutes some major trip hazards. Then there is the build up of mud and green slime which constitutes a major slip hazard.
On the eastern side there is the old ramp where, during peak times, small boats could launch off the old concrete ramp. (It is also easier on the older “boatee”.) Unfortunately, this ramp is covered in a thick stinking mixture of black mud and vegetation making it unusable.
It would be nice if you could actually use some of the fees we pay to clean up the ramps and make them not only “user friendly” but also safe. There have been falls on both ramps. To go boating in the future, it might be more essential to take your lawyer than take your life jacket.
I would respectfully suggest if you do decide to go and see if there really is a boat ramp there, go down at either low tide or even half tide, as high tide tends to hide a multitude of sins.
Wayne Hill
Whitianga
Dear Editor,
I was disturbed at TCDC’s patronising response to your excellent article on behalf of the aggrieved people in Golf Rd. TCDC’s unsigned response was out of line. Perhaps if they had taken the time to explain the situation in more detail we may have all understood more fully the way the system works. To most of us Rural Zoning means rural living for those wanting to live in a rural setting – far removed from business/commercial enterprises. However, as we have just witnessed, this right can be challenged. TCDC commissioned what is called a section 42A report as they were obliged by the Resource Management Act to do. TCDC analysed the issue and the submissions in opposition and, in their wisdom, recommended that the application be granted. The application then went to a hearing before an independent commissioner who decided to grant the application subject to some conditions. At this stage the aggrieved property owners had appeal rights to the Environment Court. An extremely costly process which most of us are unable to pursue, and a situation that is commonly used to the advantage of those with the funding to pursue their own outcomes rather than what many of us would consider is morally right. Unlike the applicants who had the funds to turn up with a lawyer, planner and traffic engineer the residents were totally out of their depth with just their faith in TCDC, the RMA and Council Zoning.
The applicants appear to have had some sort of temporary approval from TCDC to move containers on to the land and to start trading ahead of having obtained any resource consent to do so. The temporary approval was apparently given on the basis that an application for resource would be lodged in short order. This, to my understanding, is a clear breach of the RMA. The applicants argument that they had a mortgage to pay so they needed to start trading is quite irrelevant.
They should have been served with an abatement notice, but TCDC chose to turn a blind eye.
The appointment of independent commissioners by TCDC, to me, is a total “cop out” to take the heat off themselves. They find it convenient to appoint independent commissioners to hear what might be controversial resource consent applications. That way TCDC can hide behind the resulting decision and any criticism of it by throwing up their hands and saying “not us”. (Sound familiar – just check their unsigned condemnation of the Informer article in last weeks issue).
This Commercial Enterprise should have be relocated to an Industrial/Commercial Zoned area which is geared to deal with Industrial/Commercial enterprises. Of course this would mean that The Applicants would have to pay commercial rates, but I am sure they would sleep better at night with a clear conscience that they have not destroyed the lifestyles of the rural community of Golf Rd., - although the scars of the experience for one elderly couple are likely to last a lifetime.
Ady Cole-Ewen
Simpsons Beach