Letters, February 19: Backing for youth unit

We write as part of the co-founding group behind the site of Te Hurihanga programme in Hamilton, as well as people closely connected to several agencies on site.

The decision to close Te Hurihanga, the youth justice unit at the Waikato Christian social service village, Te Ara Hou, has been met with huge and widespread concern.

The decision was based on the belief the cost of turning 16-year-old frequent offenders into good citizens outweighs the benefits of having young men fully functioning in society as family members, workers and taxpayers. Many have written to say the cost per graduate is more than worth the complete turn-around the eight graduates have experienced, with none of them re-offending. These 14 to 16-year-olds had committed on average more than 20 offences each.

Te Hurihanga certainly proved its worth, and huge savings have been made through the prevention of further crime and the subsequent cost of prison time.

The quality of the staff at Te Hurihanga, with their great courage, compassion and role-modelling, together with their crucial bi-cultural ethos is ground-breaking nationally, as well as unprecedented internationally.

It is crucial everything Te Hurihanga has achieved through its staff from Youth Horizons, is upheld and honoured. We understand providers are now tendering through the Social Development Ministry for further youth justice programme work in the building, but this will be funded on a new cost-effective basis. It was made clear to the Justice Ministry when the pilot programme was coming to the end of its three-year term that the standards, ethos and effectiveness of Te Hurihanga should be upheld at all costs, whoever funded the programme in the future.

A high benchmark has been set by Youth Horizons and it would be tragic if their remarkable achievements were diluted in the name of cost cutting. We strongly urge the Government to reinstate Te Hurihanga to continue a remarkable standard of human redemption and hope for these young men. (Abridged)

BISHOP DAVID MOXON

Anglican Bishop of Waikato

BISHOP DENIS BROWN

Catholic Bishop of Hamilton

Catering issues

I totally agree with the recent editorial regarding a catering contract being given to Montana without the issue of a tender (Waikato Times, January 20).

As I recall, the 25-year catering contract for Waikato Stadium and Seddon Park did not go out to tender either. If I remember correctly, an expression of interest which included a clause requiring the successful contractor to purchase the catering equipment, estimated at $1.3-$1.8 million was sought by the Hamilton City Council.

Probably because of the equipment cost, only Montana – a minnow in the catering industry at that time – expressed an interest. Montana was given the contract and the cost of the catering equipment was removed from the contract and paid for by the council. The perception is?

You draw your own conclusions. Nikki Preston's article on Montana (January 18) did not mention the 20-year catering contract won by Montana for the Claudelands Events Centre.

This in spite of the fact the financial return to the council from one of the other applicants was far greater than that from Montana.

One would have thought that at a time of major and mounting debt, an increase in income would have been welcome. It would be interesting to know whether these long-term contracts can be sold.

JOHN EASTO

Hamilton

Hamilton City Council communication manager Monica Holt responds: The original Montana contract for Waikato Stadium was negotiated by Waikato Stadium Trust about 2000, before it got into financial difficulties and the council took over the project. The trust gave an assurance at the time it had been through a proper tender process to select Montana, and the council finished off the contract by finalising and agreeing to the terms.

Claudelands is a completely different story: Montana won the contract through a normal, transparent tender process managed by the council from start to finish.

Advocacy setback

I was disgusted to read about Hamilton Budgeting Advisory Trust manager Clare Mataira suggesting solo parents would have more children to avoid earlier work obligations.

This ridiculous statement will set back advocacy for solo parents by decades. The public already believe the myth that solo parents choose to be solo parents.

Most single parents are genuine refugees from bad relationships, and they and their children need our support. Ill-considered opinions like those of Ms Mataira are damaging to these families.

Should anyone wish to discuss this further contact Bryan Lewis, at Waikato University: BPL2@waikato.ac.nz.

BRYAN P LEWIS

Hamilton

Crewe murders

David White (Waikato Times letters, February 11), you do seem knowledgeable about the Crewe murders. As for me, because I was living and working overseas then, I did not see or read anything about the case, consequently I haven't been able to work out who the woman was, nor have I met anyone who knows her identity. It seems to me most people are still curious as to who killed the Crewes. You mention three truths about the case – how does one find out what they are? To me it was bizarre – the blood-stained house, both deceased were large well-built people, someone carted two bodies to the river, weighted them down, and dumped them in the river, leaving an infant to fend for herself.

I have no idea what you mean when you write the truth in careless hands can be a cruel weapon. I must be missing something. What do you mean? Are you suggesting we should all tell lies?

N CHRISTIAN

Hamilton

Provincial holiday

I have been surprised at the correspondence regarding Auckland Anniversary and people pushing for our own Waikato Anniversary.

I have always understood the holiday was for the Auckland province, of which Waikato is part. I have seen no mention of Auckland province in any of the Waikato Times articles. Has there been a change of which I am unaware?

D M BAILEY

Hamilton

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