Letters: Development an example of the problems with intensification
Concerns building over development
Good on you to put the ex-Unitec campus housing development story on the front page (Apr 14). Not that Auckland is short of urban intensification design and planning disasters, but this one is arguably the flagship of them all.
And good on the local community for forming an alliance and taking their genuine concerns to court.
The entire idea from the start was wrong-headed. Replacing the best tertiary education campus grounds in the country with housing that, generally, can be built anywhere shows how blind our politicians are when it comes to resources of national strategic significance.
Then came the master planning stage, apparently led by people blessedly ignorant of the many issues on the site, including limited access, difficult topography, sensitive ecology and hydrology, and a considerable bundle of architectural and landscape heritage.
Never mind what the Environment Court will rule, what should we do now?
This is an important lesson for the advocates, as well as opponents of intensification. The best we can do now is stop the project, revise it radically, and learn lessons that might bring intensification in Auckland a better image in the future.
Dushko Bogunovich, retired professor of urban design and planning, Herne Bay.
Praise for the Pope
Pope Leo is showing global leadership where other leaders seem afraid to. He calls war “absurd and inhuman” and highlights the suffering of innocent people. He also criticises the “idolatry of power and money”, urging for “peace to break the cycle of evil”.
Surely, unlike the self-proclaimed leader of the free world, Pope Leo would be a genuine contender for the next Nobel Peace Prize. However, through dignity and humility, he would probably be a reluctant recipient.
Why Donald Trump would want to get offside with the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world seems beyond belief.
I’m guessing the 60 to 70 million Catholics in the United States must be very disappointed in this behaviour and embarrassed to have him leading their country?
By the way, I am not a Catholic myself. However, I am very impressed with Pope Leo for speaking out strongly against Trump, the killing of Palestinians and the unprovoked war against Iran. I just wish our Prime Minister and others in power would show similar courage.
Glen Stanton, Mairangi Bay.
Dealin’ with the Don
Cui bono? Who really benefits if “the Pacific” sends empty oil tankers to the United States for desperately needed fuel?
Has the McDonald’s-munching, Pope-trashing, Jesus-lookalike President concluded that an ongoing war with Iran might benefit the US and special friends? More oil sales at premium prices. A happy Lebanon-levelling Netanyahu. And beyond, a Russia enriched by now-sanctionless petrodollars. A China trading arms for oil with Iran.
Pity about the killing of tens of thousands of people lost in the fine detail. What are the real consequences of dealin’ with the Don?
Lori Dale, Ōpōtiki.
Comedian-in-chief
It’s the best laugh my husband and I have had in years — Trump dressed up as a saviour.
How can anyone take it seriously, let alone be offended.
I am a Christian and it was not offensive; it was very funny.
I suspect Donald has a wicked sense of humour and delights in getting a response.
S. Hansen, Hastings.
Bringing back Epstein?
Donald Trump’s latest personification has him as Jesus apparently bringing a man to life. That is sickening enough but what may be worse is that the man being raised bears an eerie resemblance to Jeffrey Epstein.
Peter Beyer, Sandringham.
The Fonterra deal
Fonterra sold many iconic brands to the French for billions. The value of that side of the business was based entirely on the New Zealand public purchasing the products and on New Zealanders giving their working lives to the company over a period of many years.
Without the public, Fonterra would have no value. Now the public gets zero from the sale because it has been defined as return on capital.
What about all the effort put in by countless New Zealanders to make the company a success? Apparently, that counts for nothing.
Susan Grimsdell, Auckland Central.
Still an issue!
What a disaster Anne Gibson’s article (Apr 13) on Cintra Apartments has revealed.
We, and particularly the building industry and architects, should be ashamed that as a country we are still faced with leaky homes and buildings and materials that are just not fit for purpose.
The leaky homes issue goes as far back as 1970 and yet despite various inquiries and changes to legislation, the problem still exists today.
Perhaps it is appropriate to once again have an in-depth investigation to correctly identify just where the issues lie and with whom.
J. R. Jones, Mairangi Bay.
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