Selwyn_Times: December 13, 2023

Wednesday December 13 2023 Selwyn Times
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
LETTERS 13
Mana whenua reps ‘best practice’
I WOULD LIKE to reassure
Selwyn residents that the
presence of a Taumutu Rūnanga
representative at the council
table is not something I have any
issue with, and my colleagues
and I benefit from their presence.
Mr Wade (Selwyn Times,
December 6) fears an appointed
member might not be accountable
or responsible; they most
certainly are, and those who do
not perform their duties can be
removed or replaced at any time,
not just once every three years.
This applies to any appointee,
whether they are a rūnanga
representative, a member of the
audit and risk committee, or an
RMA commissioner.
To Mr McKim and Mr Evans:
An advisor cannot participate
in discussion in the same way
as a committee member, and
all appointments are based on
qualifications and experience –
not just ethnicity. That means
they often seek more precise
answers and contribute specific
insight to debates, particularly
in their respective areas of
expertise.
Selwyn’s elected representatives
do a great job for our residents,
however appointees help
us to be better and do better as
a collective. Failing to support
such roles – which are best practice
across New Zealand – would
be both backward and insular.
-Sophie McInnes, district
councillor, Rolleston
Ian Evans states “our whole
country was established on a
democracy that was fair and free
for all who wished to take part”.
Our whole country is in fact established
on Te Tiriti o Waitangi,
which is a partnership between
two sets of people – tangata
whenua and tangata tiriti.
It is the foundation for all
democracy, which includes
elections and traditional
methods of consensus
communication and decision
making. Mana whenua are not
token puppets – as our local
hapū, Taumutu is entitled to
be consulted, heard and have
a direct role in contributing to
decision making. If we do not
honour the treaty, we leave the
door open for anyone with more
money and power to come here
and take over our country.
-Stephanie Pearce, Darfield
Library security
As a regular user and a
ratepayer of the Rolleston
Library, I would appreciate
knowing why it is necessary to
have a security heavy stationed
inside the library at 10am on a
Monday morning? Intimidating
and unsettling. Does not
contribute to a nice atmosphere
at all.
-Claire Struthers, Prebbleton
Council community services
and facilities manager Denise
Kidd responds: We introduced
security staff for the whole town
centre area in June while we investigated
an altercation between
two members of the public. The
security was arranged through
the council’s contracted security
provider and continued during
a period when we had lower staff
numbers at Te Ara Ᾱtea. We are
regularly reviewing this service.
Te Ara Ātea is a busy and
vibrant hub that is enjoyed by
hundreds of people every day
and we are proud of the work our
team does to create a positive atmosphere
and welcome everyone
who visits.
Lincoln business
park plan
I am a Barton Fields
landowner and resident.
Mr Townsend asks (Selwyn
Times, December 6): “Did
Barton Fields new residents
really expect that rural land to
the west would stay that way
forever?” Yes, that’s precisely
the SDC designation in the land
use plan upon which people
based and continue to base their
purchasing decisions.
I’m not against development
DEVELOPMENT: The boundary between Barton Fields and
the proposed business park will have a greenspace and
shared pathway.
PHOTO: DANIEL ALVEY
nor Mr Townsend (and his
group). However, there is clearly
the perception that this request
for a change in zone designation
has not been done with full
transparency.
The opinion that Lincoln
needs commercial zoning is
without any evidence to back up
this assertion.
Given how storage companies,
fencing companies and small
warehouses operate, the number
of jobs created will be small.
The argument the rezoning is
viable because businesses will
come because of ‘visibility’, when
the frontage along Springs Rd is
the shortest of all sides, is plainly
illogical.
-Neil Bleasdale (abridged),
Barton Fields
We want to hear your views
on the issues affecting life
in Selwyn
Send emails to:
barry@
starmedia.kiwi
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Pick up an event guide from any
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Pools
Libraries
selwyn.govt.nz/summerinselwyn
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See pages 20–31
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