Editorial: A mother's voice

OPINION: The shooting to death of a young Nelson man 11 days ago shook the district.

Regardless of the surrounding circumstances, which will be explored in court, the fact that someone could lose his life in this way, in a popular public park in full daylight, came as a shock.

Rumours have swept through the community as people come to terms with what happened and try to find an explanation, and there has been some level of expectation that there would be retaliation for Troy Minto's death. Now his mother, Shirley Way, has bravely spoken out against any such action – and it is to be hoped that her message is heard.

Speaking at a memorial service on Saturday at the site of her son's death, Branford Park, Ms Way couched her plea in straightforward terms: she knew some of Troy's friends were angry, she said, "but I don't want to lose any more people to this". She also asked that those attending the service set an example of restraint to "all these young kids running around out there with knives. If anyone can do anything to change that, it's you." Coming from a bereaved mother, these are powerful words.

Archdeacon Harvey Whakaruru, who conducted the service, questioned the attitudes of "Generation Y", those born between 1978 and 1994, but rightly pointed out that no generation would expect such a death "in our own backyard and playground here in the Maitai". His words too will have resonated with the majority of the population. This death was an isolated tragedy and must be seen in that light – but if it causes those among Nelson's young people who have been touched by what happened to carry out an honest self-appraisal of their values and behaviour, some good might come of it.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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