The Star: September 14, 2017

22
Thursday September 14 2017
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Fire rages, homes at risk
Children get into election
I VIVIDLY remember the 1984
election. I was 10-years-old and
there was a sense that change was
in the air.
I remember watching the
new candidate for Sydenham,
Jim Anderton, holding a street
meeting outside of our family
home. I also have brief snatches
of memories of the 1981 election
held in the wake of the Springbok
tour. I remember driving along
Lincoln Rd and asking my dad
what “Think Big” on the signs
meant.
I’ve been recalling these
memories as I have been watching
the growing fascination children
are having with this election. It
seems that the events happening
around them are pulling some
of them away from their screens
and iPads. They are turning up
at my street corner armed with
questions and a desire to know
more.
Visiting local schools has
become more intense as children
are lining up to know more. Two
of the most frequent questions
I get are ‘when did I last see
Jacinda’ and ‘what is my favourite
colour’. However, there is also a
smattering of questions that go to
the heart of this election. Cleaning
up rivers and making sure we
don’t mess up our world is top of
their lists.
Lots of the local schools are
taking part in the Electoral
Commission’s mock election
where children are encouraged
to look at what the parties are
saying and will be asked to cast
a vote based on what they have
found out. This is an outstanding
initiative and the commission and
the schools taking part deserve
huge congratulations. Let’s hope
this creates a generation of voters.
I love campaigns but this
engagement by children with
what is going on is putting an
extra spring in my step. I believe
we have a duty to leave our world
better than we found it and the
constant sight of children’s faces
constantly reminds me of that.
•Megan Woods is Labour’s
Canterbury spokeswoman
Readers react to the
Anglican synod’s decision
to reinstate Christ Church
Cathedral, six years after
it was badly damaged
in the February 22, 2011,
earthquake
Raymond Watchman –
Folks, set aside your feelings
about religion. See the Cathedral
as Christchurch’s most
iconic building. It’s restoration
will make it a powerful symbol
of the spirit of the Christchurch
community as a whole, rising
undaunted, undefeated, from
the anguish and rubble of tremendous
disaster. You cannot
really put a monetary value on
such a powerful symbolic testimony
to the human spirit, the
spirit of the people of Christchurch.
Lyn Jarman – Money
should have been redirected to
those affected by the quakes,
particularly in areas of mental
health. Restoring the Cathedral
will not give those people any
hope or help. Will the doors be
left open so the homeless can
sleep in it? Will it entice those of
us back – people are the heart of
Otautahi, not a building.
Carolyn Phil Murphy –
Fantastic, another positive step
towards the future of Christchurch.
The Cathedral is the centre of
the city – let’s hope this decision
will encourage others to
move ahead with central city
projects.
Rob McGregor – The
church can decide to do whatever
it wants with its property – as
long as it pays for it.
But that’s not the case here
and a very small minority are
going to have their new house of
worship largely paid for by nonbelievers
like me. Sorry, I am
not happy with this decision.
DESERVING:
Jim Anderton
with wife Carole
and friend Tony
Holman during
his investiture
ceremony.
PHOTO:
GOVERNOR-
GENERAL/
FACEBOOK
Readers show their
appreciation for the
ailing Jim Anderton who
was presented with an
insignia for his services
to Parliament at a special
ceremony
Sharron Cole – Really
moving to see Helen (Clark)
there. And yes, thanks Jim for
so much – for being a man of
strong principles who really
cared about every individual in
our society and for the tremendous
work you spearheaded in
regional development after the
scorched earth neo-lib reforms
of the 80s and 90s had almost
destroyed the provincial economies.
Mark Hutchinson-
Lowden – Thank you Jim for
the excellent work you have
done for New Zealand. You told
my dad you would get a NZ
(Kiwibank) owned bank back
and you did it. Cheers Jim.
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