Tony Watkins

It was sad to realise that anyone should not know that karaka berries are poisonous. (East and Bays Courier, 1 April 2009) 

I apologise.

My clothing was torn from my body, The fangs of the dogs sank so deeply into my flesh that they punctured right through to the bone. I was covered in blood.

The wounds of course turned septic and months later suppurating puss was still oozing from my shoulder.

I had to replace everything I was wearing except my shoes.

However in saying that I had been “mauled” I intended to be descriptive rather than emotive.

I unreservedly withdraw the word “mauled” and I would be delighted to use in the future any more appropriate term Monica Cookson, East and Bays Courier May 21 can suggest. 

I once saw a dog “attack” (my term) or “begin playing with” (the dog owner’s term) a girl who was swimming.

All those concerned about the failure of modern architecture to take account of context, tradition and heritage should not despair. Auckland can boast at least one example of excellence. This is the Edmiston wing of the Auckland City Art Gallery.

Everyone who has been subjected to bullying by the Auckland City Council can regard the the new crumbling, weak-kneed logo as a triumph for democracy. 

Clayton Gosgrove, Building Issues Minister, seems to have overlooked the obvious in suggesting that owner-builders should be further penalised. Members of Parliament do not need to be Licensed Practitioners. They are not even required to demonstrate competence.

The decision by the QEII Trust to make a profit from the Aroha Island Kiwi Sanctuary, as reported in the Herald, poses a threat to more than 2,412 registered QEII Open Space Covenants protecting some 78,266 hectares.

NZPA photograph

The superb photograph in the Herald of a milk truck which almost completed its journey through three houses reveals a serious flaw in New Zealand house design.

Any lay person would presume that when the Auckland City Council rezoned the historic Coolangatta homestead for twelve apartments they were hoping that this might happen. Not so. Apparently they really intended to save the heritage building.

The concept of having a model of the city centre, as suggested by Auckland City councillor Vern Walsh on his return from a study tour, is an excellent one. 

The next big one for the building industry, after leaky buildings, could be much closer than we imagined.

The actual built-form performance of the Auckland City Council suggests that there is little chance of us ever being more than a third-world class city.

Incompetence is expensive. Most of us cannot afford it. The Auckland City Council is fortunate indeed to have someone else to pay the bills.

"Welcome to the 'Cedars'. a 1962 Group Architects masterpiece by Ivan Juriss," says the real estate advertising.

Google Earth is not a problem for nations. It is rather a problem for those people who feel they have an absolute right to snoop on the lives of other people, and as a result are very self conscious when someone else begins snooping on them.