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Opinion
Your Voice Please vote: It’s soon our chance to vote for 12 city councillors and one mayor. But it’s wretched that only half of those of us who can vote, do vote. However boring it is, please make the effort to vote, if only because it’s our money that pays councillors around 40k a year ($800 per week) and the mayor around 100k a year ($2000 per week). It’s also pretty dismal when you see the advanced age of some candidates. (Being 71 myself, I feel able to criticise). Ward and Courtney - if they really want to help the community should consider volunteering for Age Concern or delivering Meals on Wheels, not presuming to stand for mayor. After all, this is Nelson - not Beijing. We definitely need a change of mayor, to reboot the system and get things moving ahead. It’s a very busy and stressful job if done properly and it needs somebody dynamic and, dare I say it,
modern. Living in Brook St, you can guess who I’m voting for. Similarly, I’m pleased to see at least one young councillor candidate I can support. Again, with my connection with a certain local locksmiths - you may guess who will be receiving my tick. Andrew Rose No more letters: I will not be submitting any more letters as 90 per cent of those I have submitted have not been published. It appears to me and others that you have been bought by council. The people deserve better than what you are giving them, considering the corruption at NCC. I will certainly use every means necessary to let it be known what your attitude to these issues appears to be, issues that should be addressed by the fourth estate. Dan McGuire Front page: I was appalled to open the letterbox today and find a copy of Whakatu Weekly with a disgusting front-page fea-
Nelson Weekly
Opinion
WEDNESDAY 18 September 2019
Locally Owned and Operated
editorial@nelsonweekly.co.nz facebook.com/nelsonweekly www.nelsonweekly.co.nz
turing nudists. These people have no place in our society and for a newspaper to advertise this level of human degradation is abysmal. The standard can’t really get any lower. Any form of journalism has influence on weak minds and for the standard to be dropped like this it shows a complete flaw in the responsibility of the editor of this unfortunate paper. Society is at a very low ebb as it is without promoting such base activities. Do you honestly believe that children won’t be subjected to the front page? Would you like your children to see that? Looking for change. Jessica Smith Climate change: There is the tradition, some would say obligation, for each adult generation to prepare for and protect the youth of any period. Perhaps the most noble attribute that humans have is to provide nurture far in excess of any simple survival function. The best of our youth caring is cherishing and celebrating them. We will go to war, if necessary, to
protect their freedoms and we would rather die than lose their future. This, for me, is why it is so hard to understand the relative lack of action on climate change. I know it is large and hard to understand, but when 97 per cent of experts in climate science say we are in an existential threat, that is pretty motivating. We are staring down the barrel of mass migration from sections of the world that are becoming unliveable, resource wars that will ruin the world economy, and the diminution of much of what we love in life. Pretty much everything about our way of life is threatened; even things like your retirement, your groceries and the family pet. But topping the list is our children’s future. I think I speak for most of us in saying I would do anything to protect them. Therefore, when faced with an existential problem for our children, it is a call to action. Please consider climate change chaos as a call to action. We have a hope of minimalising the disruption, if we change our direction in a concerted way. Con-
Nelson Matters The latest suicide figures from the coroner are awful. New Zealand’s toll for the year to June 2019 hit a new high of 685 with the last month the worst ever at 79. The annual numbers for Nelson and Marlborough were 20 up from 12 the year before. Words cannot describe the anguish and grief that goes with each life lost. The suicide issue requires sensitivity and compassion. There is no place for the blame game or partisan politics. We need to heed the expert evidence that excessive publicity can risk more deaths but we also need to confront the hard questions. My local constituency work this month included dealing with a
tragic death at Franklin Village early on Sunday 1st September. The man had fallen on tough times over winter, knew he was not OK and sought help. Our Emergency Department turned him away in the days prior. He met, supported by friends, with the Mental Health Community Assessment Team the night prior. His friends were horrified by the way his suicidal concerns were dismissed and care refused. His death, like many others, was preventable. I am following up his case with our District Health Board and the Suicide Prevention Office. My worry is that I am getting an increasing number of com-
plaints about deteriorating mental health services. Staff morale is low, turnover has been awful and too many good professionals have resigned. The Health Board, Chair and CEO have fairly heard my concerns. They are frustrated that none of the promised additional resources from Government have yet materialised for front line services. Preventing suicide is a really tough issue. The current and previous Governments have both taken initiatives to reverse the tide. This month there was cross party agreement to work together on the issue. We need a science based approach that taps into the very best evidence
Nelson housing unaffordability grows: I don't think it is the house prices so much but high costs of living and low wages. Years ago I did the $2.25 a day challenge and even the cheapest food was significantly cheaper in Wellington. Diana Margaret Watt
Only to buy a home??? Unaffordability to live more like! This so-called 'smart little city' is not very smart at all when you look beyond the unaffordable housing. Frances Minogue
544 Waimea Road, Nelson
on what will work. We also need to be cautious of change that will make the problem worse. I worry that the debate on euthanasia feeds a culture that some lives are not worth living. I am also concerned that liberalizing cannabis will just add to our mental health and suicide woes. Part of the solution is ensuring people are connected and valued. That’s why I am such a strong supporter of sports, arts, church and other community groups that enable people to be engaged with their community. We must also salute all the social service organisations in Nelson, whether it is the Male Room, Women’s Refuge, Age Concern,
RE-ELECT COUNCILLOR
MIKE RUTLEDGE
COMMITTED TO NELSON Authorised by M. Rutledge, 39a Marsden Rd, Stoke
certed, because we must all do this together, both regionally and internationally. It is a tall order, but we have shown we can band together to protect our future before. This is our time, our defining challenge, and our last chance to get it right. The stakes could not be higher; let’s get moving. Jace Hobbs
school councillors and youth workers that are everyday helping people in crisis. I have a duty to help get our public services working better to prevent these ongoing tragedies but change requires we all do our bit. We all need to be open to seeking support. We need at home, work and in our community to better care for each other. Every life matters. Where you can find help and support: Lifeline 0800 543 354 Youthline 0800 376 633 Suicide Crisis Help Line 0508 828 865 Advert.