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CHARITY Big Walk for Humanity raises $8000
The 14th annual Walk for Humanity was held at Barry Curtis Park on August 27.
Photo supplied
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaát New Zealand held its 14th annual Walk for Humanity on Saturday August 27.
The 10km walk was held through Barry Curtis Park, with $8600 raised.
The funds raised go to two worthy charities – Blind Low Vision New Zealand, the principal recipient, and Humanity First New Zealand, another charitable trust which serves the local as well the Pacific region for all types of serious disaster relief.
The National president of the Auxiliary wing, Dr Nadeem Ahmad said: “Supporting people in need as well as helping the poor in one’s community are central pillars of the Islamic faith.
“By organising this walk and reaching out to the wider community to help sponsor the walkers, we are doing nothing more than what we believe to be our duty as true Muslims.”
The fundraising manager of Blind Low Vision NZ said he was thrilled with the donation and earlier had noted, “’The motto of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is ‘Love for all and hatred for none’ and it is evident in their peaceful actions.”
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Committee members Jan Tait, left, and Grant Taylor preparing entries for the judges. Photo supplied
STUDENTS SNAP CALENDAR SHOTS
The Lions Club of Howick have once again run a photo competition for students attending local secondary schools, with the top 12 photos going into their annual scenic calendar. Many outstanding entries have been received for this year’s competition which showcases the wonderful artistic talents these students possess.
The theme for the images include that they must be taken in the east Auckland, bold images must be suitable for a calendar use and display good composition with thoughtful planning of the image.
The three judges will no doubt spend a considerable amount of time assessing the entries as the standard of the images demonstrate impressive skills by these young photographers.
An exhibition is to be held at Fencible Lounge, Uxbridge Road, Howick on Friday October 7, 11am-3pm. All the entries will be displayed.
The prize-winners will be announced and presented with their prizes: 1st place is a $1000 Prezzy card (sponsored by Howick Lions Club), 2nd is a $500 Prezzy card (sponsored by Designer Digital), and 3rd is a $300 Prezzy card (sponsored by McBridge Holdings).
Their winning images and nine other student entries will be used in the Howick Lions 2023 Calendar which will be available at the exhibition for purchase before it is available at various outlets.
All profits go back into the local community.
GOD’S BIG BANG RESPONSE
What about the Big Bang being God’s work (re letters, Times, September 14)?
Well, it wasn’t mentioned in the scriptures (unlike the 6 days comment) and it’s only happened once in 15 billion years but we don’t have enough knowledge to explain that, or ghosts or telepathy or UFOs or Auckland Transport policies, so let’s just say God did everything we can’t explain (yet).
The implication that the Big Bang signifies a god doesn’t consider the fact it’s only happened once in 15 billion years and therefor maybe said God’s mum told him off for playing with explosives and sent him off for some time out or he’s slipped into the multiverse and is currently busy blowing stuff up over there to see if he gets another rock full of humans.
Randel Case Bucklands Beach
INDICATION OF INTEREST SOUGHT
As part of its 100-year anniversary celebrations recently, the Pakuranga Tennis Club published a comprehensive history detailing the club’s activities.
On the April 13, 1921, a local farmer, one R.A. (Dufty) Bell called a public meeting to ‘form a tennis court in the District’, to quote the original hand-written minutes held by the club) and hence the title of the publication.
‘…..to form a tennis court….’ features……... * 70 bound pages * Extensive black and white and full colour illustrations * Eight chapters plus four appendices
Every section and aspect of the club’s activities is covered, from juniors to veterans, championships and tournaments, interclub achievements, social play and other activities.
The first edition has proved so popular it has now sold out! Due to a number of enquiries we have received however, we are keen to publish a second edition but need an indication of interest to proceed.
We would love readers to contact either myself paultibbutt@ gmail.com or the club secretary paktennis@xtra.co.nz if they have an interest in purchasing a copy (cost to be advised).
Co-editor Paul Tibbutt Pakuranga Tennis Club IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS A QUESTION
Way back when time began and humans started to think; a wise man was asked, “who made the world?”
The wise man shrugged and said, “God knows”.
Over the millennia since then, Chinese whispers have developed the story to the biblical one now accepted as gospel by many people.
Everyone loves a good story, but it takes some intelligence to separate fact from fiction.
Derek Paterson Sunnyhills PROPOSED PLAN CHANGE 78
Is Plan Change 78 an open-ended proposal for the people to consider? No, it is not.
The proposed plan came into effect the same day it was notified (August 18) and the people had no power of refusal or right of appeal. It is akin to a person being married the moment they are proposed to with no power or right to seek a divorce. This has to be in breach of Section 5 of the Bill of Rights Act i.e. it cannot “be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society”.
The Plan Change and Government dictate under the Enabling Housing Supply Amendment Act must be repealed especially as there is no shortage of housing supply as implied by the Act i.e. The Unitary Plan made provision for 900,000 plus additional dwellings, sufficient for the next 30 years (Auckland Council, Our Auckland, June 28, 2021).
The people must be able to choose their future way of life plus the environmental assessment work wasn’t done. The Government had no right to impose this on the people.
Victoria Lowe Shamrock Park
RAISED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
I am writing in support of Yuva Adhikary’s letter “Forget raised crossing, what about footpaths in Flat Bush?” published by the Times last week.
His legitimate concerns about the proposed raised pedestrian crossing on Pakuranga Road, which are shared by so many people, merit to be taken seriously by Auckland Transport.
Pakuranga is a main arterial road that provides rapid access to and from East Auckland and serves up to 40,000 vehicles on a weekday. Building a raised pedestrian crossing on that road would go completely against its purpose; very much like putting a speed bump on a motorway.
On the other hand, there is a pedestrian crossing 300m away from the proposed site. Educating the public about the safe use of existing crossings would make much more sense than trying to over-protect the small number of pedestrians who take risks – and will continue to do so whether there is a crossing or not – at the cost of disrupting thousands of motorists and creating unnecessary congestion on a busy road.
It would make a lot more sense to use the budget to build muchneeded footpaths in Flat Bush and other places where there are road safety issues.
Raquel Francois Cockle Bay MEDIA TRUST VERY LOW
population and everything falls apart. When I order a book from Ebay and pay by card, I trust that the book will arrive. And it does, and my trust is reaffirmed. It’s the same with Governments when they tell us to act in a certain way and we do, we trust them and when the promise does not happen, we lose trust.
It is the same with the media, we have lost trust in the media. They have become a propaganda instrument for whoever pays them. Public trust in the Government and Big Media is at an all-time low in New Zealand because they have lost our trust.
Ian George Howick
WHAT ABOUT FOOTPATHS IN FLAT BUSH?
Forget the raised crossing, what about footpaths in Flat Bush?
Having attended the same meeting re the proposed crossing on the Pakuranga Highway, which proposal has been brought about by one pedestrian accident in the past five years, the fact that there are main roads in Flat Bush with no footpaths beggars belief.
I understand these main roads have to be used by children to walk to school. Surely this is just asking for trouble and with a much higher risk of fatalities. Please Auckland Transport, apply common sense and spend our money where the need is greater and the outcomes much safer for everyone.
Kathy Kennedy Cockle Bay COUNCILLORS’ RATES VOTES
A big thankyou to Cr Paul Young for voting for our rates increase. Our rates have just been increased by $80.
Thank you Cr Sharon Stewart for voting against the rate increase. Sorry you were not successful
Arthur Moore Pakuranga
h Editor’s note: Auckland
