Letters, November 13: Backed up by research

I can reassure Jeremy Welch of Huntly (Waikato Times, November 3) that I have indeed done considerable research on children and their television use, to back up my assertions.

One such example, in collaboration with Dr Ruth Zanker from the New Zealand Broadcasting School, is "Pleasure, excess and self-monitoring: The media worlds of New Zealand children", in Media International Australia number 126, February 2008. A simple Google search of "Geoff Lealand + children + television" will find other examples. Such research has the objective of increasing New Zealand-based knowledge, as well as giving New Zealand children and teens a voice to report their own experiences. I do not regard societal changes as "unimportant". In contrast to Mr Welch, I just tend to see them as rather more positive, challenging and contradictory.

GEOFF LEALAND

Associate professor

Screen and media studies

Waikato University

Missed the point

The Waikato Times editorial of November 4 missed the point; motorcyclists are prepared to pay their part towards the cost of motorcycle accidents. There are, however, several injustices in the current system which will be exacerbated if the higher charges are introduced.

Surveys show most road motorcyclists own and ride more than one machine but obviously they can ride only one at a time. Even if they sold their other bikes, the distance travelled would be the same; therefore a fairer system would be for riders, rather than motorcycles, to be levied.

As a high percentage of motorcycle accidents are caused by other road users, it is reasonable they subsidise motorcycle ACC coverage.

All motorcycle accidents, including those off road, are paid for by the road riders through their registration fees.

If it is deemed fair for motorcyclists to pay for the full cost of their accidents, why aren't cyclists levied?

You will note I have not even mentioned sports accidents.

G R BOXELL

Kihikihi

Large turnout

On behalf of the Hamilton Ulysses Club I would like to thank the Waikato Times for covering our protest rally last Saturday. The protest rally against the proposed ACC levy on motorbikes was a great success, with a big turnout of bikes and riders. The Times' coverage of the event in the paper of November 2 was awesome.

DONNELLA HENRIKSON

Secretary

Slanted editorial

The editorial in the Waikato Times of November 4 seems a bit slanted to me.

Sure bike riders may suffer more serious injuries than people in cars but we are supposed to have a no-fault ACC system, so excessive levies on bike riders are unfair.

What about cyclists – they pay no levies yet they are also far more likely to get hurt than a motorist. You could say the same thing about them as motorcyclists – they have chosen to use this form of transport either for pleasure or cost.

As most accidents are a result of alcohol – one way or another – the fairer way would be to put an ACC levy on alcohol instead of penalising workers and motorists.

The next biggest sector of accidents is sports-related injuries and yes it is great that sport is widely enjoyed here but these people are over represented in the ACC figures as well, yet I see no mention of any extra levies being put upon sportspeople.

A 20 per cent levy on alcohol would certainly fill up ACC coffers and I am sure that the public would be quite happy to pay in this way instead of ever-increasing levies on people. (Abridged)

SUE O'NEILL

Hamilton

Protest marches

Brodifacoum has been a focus of media attention in the Auckland area since the drops on Rangitoto and Motutapu. The Taupo District Council recently voted to lobby for an end to aerial 1080 baiting, while Westland District Council has set wider buffer zones around waterways where 1080 can be dropped, on a case by case basis.

Over the past few months New Zealand independent aerial dumping opposition groups consisting of thousands of members have been mobilised for a synchronised nationwide protest on Sunday, November 15, by www.enufisenuf.co.nz.

Health Freedom NZ is proud to be supporting this nationwide protest.

We believe the practice of aerial poisoning is indiscriminate and cruel. It kills non-target species, including our native birds.

There are many human health ramifications, short and long-term. Waterways and aquatic habitats are affected. There is proof the poisons enter our food chain.

Watch the documentary Poisoning Paradise (which is free until November 15) at www.ziln.co.nz and share this with anyone who wants to know (and even those who don't).

As part of the nationwide protest we have organised a Hamilton protest march starting in Garden Place at 2pm on Sunday. We will have guest speakers and we are launching a petition and a music video.

PAT McNAIR

Hamilton

Lost memories

Here are two sayings: honesty is the best policy and finders keepers, losers weepers. I was hoping for the first saying, but got the last.

On Labour Day afternoon at Ruapuke Beach carpark, I lost a camera. By the time we got home, found it missing and returned two hours later it was nowhere to be found.

When we were packing up there was a family (who helped us find a little boy's necklace), some surfers (lousy waves) and a number of cars and, of course, others would have arrived and left.

It's the pictures I would like back; they are of no value to anyone but irreplaceable to me. My mother's 90th birthday, nieces and nephews I haven't seen in 21 years and touristy things of Cairns and Brisbane. Someone has it and others know they have a new camera. It's a Canon Power Shot A2000 IS. If the attitude is "what's in it for me", the camera is worth $419 plus case, so that should be some reward for your trouble.

So could you please just send the memory card to your nearest police station (they were advised and an advertisement was put in the paper) and "make my day".

VALERIE LAIRD

New Plymouth

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