Editorial

Editorial: Not just mentality

OPINION: Another festival plan is abandoned, once more the unwillingness of the Nelson region's audiences to pay for expensive tickets is raised as a reason.

A special road - and it needs to be fixed

OPINION: The Totaranui road is unlikely to rate highly by the residents of Nelson and Tasman, either in terms of priority for funding or actual usage, but its overall importance cannot be denied. It has been estimated that some 30,000 tourists a year, from home and abroad, used the only land access from Golden Bay to Totaranui campground at the northern end of the famed Abel Tasman National Park.

Strong warnings in this tragedy

OPINION: Anger. Gut-wrenching grief. The relentless torture of "why".

Closure seems to be hardest word

OPINION: Twenty years is a long time to spend in a New Zealand jail.

Bad behaviour blots our image in the UK

Kiwis doing a haka at Westminster, London

OPINION: When does a good time become bad? When 4000 young New Zealanders go on a rowdy Waitangi Day pub crawl through central London, according to expatriate travel agent Dylan Clements, who has filed a complaint with the New Zealand High Commissioner.

Debate a good thing

OPINION: Amid the predictable Waitangi Weekend warm fuzzies from Labour leader David Shearer – the "celebrate the positive", "be proud to be a Kiwi" rhetoric – one small aside resonates. And not in a good way.

Sensible outcome to case

OPINION: In the war of the roads – cyclists versus cars – it often seems that the first rule of engagement is, might is right.

Govt's relationship tested

OPINION: New Zealand is well used to Waitangi Day being politically charged.

Act of God no excuse

OPINION: Was God responsible for the heavy rain in mid-December that caused so much havoc in Nelson?

Editorial: Clear path for Nelson Tasman

OPINION: If the region's voters employ the same level of commonsense and diligence to April's poll on amalgamation that they, hopefully, apply to their own affairs, then the Nelson Tasman District Council will be formed before the end of the year.

Man with a mission

Kerry Marshall can call on vast experience in a range of areas as he attempts to get the Christchurch City Council functioning smoothly. He has been mayor in both Tasman and Nelson, was president of Local Government New Zealand for three years and had four years on the Local Government Commission.

Clash of the festivals

Presumably the organisers of the still popular – if less so compared with previous years – Brightwater Wine and Food Festival will spend time around the whiteboard in planning the event's future. They drew some flak this year for increasing the ticket prices to $40, or $50 on the day. This was double last year's prices.