Rona Wilding

I read the Beacon letters page regularly. I do so with a mixture of feelings ranging from interest and amusement to bewilderment and disbelief.  

Recently, I have read many letters espousing that democracy – and its values are being threatened by the principles of the Tiriti of Waitangi.  

Our Treaty is based on principles of a living partnership with newcomers and an indigenous people.  

Democracy was based on a male who owned property having the right to involvement in decision-making, deciding the rights of all citizens.  

It took centuries before other members of society were included in the voting group and therefore the decision-maker group.  

Women in New Zealand achieved the right to cast a vote in 1893.

In England, this right was not achieved until after the First World War.  

Hardly a reputable partnership decision-making model.

Then I read of the writer who was inconvenienced by the recently erected public conveniences in the Pak’n Save carpark in Kopeopeo.  

After all, the toilets within the shopping precinct of Pak’n Save were available to all?

With a rising population of homeless people in our society, good, safe and efficient sanitation is essential.  

Many diseases are spread by poor sanitation.

A mixture of shoppers, children, food items and toilets within an enclosed area is not good public health.  

There was also concern voiced about the large numbers of crossing places for people and bicycles in certain areas of the environment and the effect this was having on traffic flow.  

The areas where these crossings predominate seems to me, to be areas where there are schools.  

Funnelling pedestrians, especially children, onto safe, well-marked crossings seems ideal to me. These crossings are easily seen by children and the drivers of vehicles.  

Thank you for letting me share my thoughts and I appreciate the chance the Beacon provides for people to share their views with others.