learning. Define where you are now (warts and all

Stag and Doe – NZ premiere STAG AND DOE Genre: A comedy by Mark Crawford/Canada/2014 Directed by: Jake La Jeunesse Reviewed by: Jim Birchall

On a sultry night at the end of summer, I went along to my first experience of a production at Howick Little Theatre. In a New Zealand premiere, Stag and Doe showcases the Canadian tradition of partners holding a fundraiser to set themselves up financially for the start their married lives.

A couple named Bonnie and Brad have a Stag and Doe planned, but run into issues with a married couple named Mandy and Rob who are at a loose end for a venue after their wedding reception tent blows down. They agree to share the local hall, but both couples are at each other’s throats, the catering staff are in jail, and the reception subsequently is in disarray.

Nasty ‘Bridezilla’ Mandy, (played by the impressive Courtney Louise) is on the warpath after a few too many wines, and the fact her fiancé Rob has shifted his focus to Bonnie’s best friend, Dee, who just so happens to be his ex that he left standing at the altar some years previously.

The cast is made up of solid performers whose range extends to cross the comedy/drama divide. Tony Rahme who plays an embattled caterer, is a genuine scene-stealer with his comedic zeal.

Gentle comedy goes hand-inglove with some touching moments, as the traditions of small town Canada collide with issues such as solo parenting, financial worries, and dealing with past heartbreak.

Stag & Doe has a light-hearted, genuine feel that doesn’t impose itself on the audience-nor take itself too seriously, making it the perfect accompaniment to a night out on the eastside.

Season: Feb 29 to March 21, 8pm Matinees: March 1 & 8, 2pm Web: hlt.nz/stag

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Racism concerns Mayor Goff is concerned about racism directed at Chinese people and so he should be when one considers the many thousands of dollars he has received in campaign funds from Chinese people.

However this is not one way traffic. We have been abused by an amateur Chinese developer who has told me to “have sex and travel” amongst other things as well as telling us this is not our country.

Fortunately this is only one person and most but not all of the Chinese I have encountered have been polite and considerate.

Arthur Moore Pakuranga

Rentals increase poverty When will the government put a cap on landlords, keen to make money at tenants’ expense?

People’s wages aren’t increasing at the same rate as rentals. Neither are interest or mortgage rates. Yet there seems to be boundless parameters for the “legal limits” landlords are able to relax into.

There’s no hope for renters trying to save or just pay the bills if landlords aren’t hedged by legal limitations.

My rent increased twice in the last year to the value of $70 a week. My neighbours rent increased by $40 a week. Others I know increased by $50. I managed to have mine reduced by $20 a week after a running email battle. My neighbours asked if they could have just $10 off their increase so they’d be able to stay but to no avail. They and their little family decided to move to something smaller they could afford but the kids had to change schools.

How do landlords think, and how does the government think ordinary people are able to sustain these ongoing, uncapped increases? Where’s the humanity? There has to be an answer to renters who can’t afford to buy but can’t afford to rent!

Tracy-Ann Kimber Bucklands Beach

Stop unnecessary development My name is Karen Purdie and I am a former police officer, teacher and am currently a physiotherapist. I have lived in Howick for 50 years, with the last 20 years residing in Willoughby Avenue, Howick.

It is my understanding that the apartment block developer has recently also bought 3 Willoughby Ave and is holding a bid that has been accepted for 5 Willoughby Avenue with the auction being brought forward to Wednesday, February 26. Therefore there is potential that the new development will go across three sites. ■ The problems are as follows: Howick Primary and Intermediate schools - students cross at this point which leads into an alleyway or short cut from Willoughby Ave into Dell Way and onto Hutchinson’s Road in Howick. This apartment block is across this intersection and this is unmanned. Parked cars and potential cars backing out of the apartment could potentially cause a fatality or serious injury. I have seen a number of close calls due to reversing cars at the end of the street. The cause of the accident was a road sign on the island in the middle of the intersection says Neil Armstrong whose BMW is a complete write off. Photo supplied

Cause of the accident was an offending sign

In a car accident on Thursday February 13, at the intersection of Laings Road and Bucklands Beach Road, I was involved in a collision with a 4-wheel drive utility when I attempted to cross the road to head home following my regular swim. After checking that the road was clear I pulled out to cross Bucklands Beach Road, and was astounded to hear a screeching of brakes coming from my right, and had no chance of my BMW avoiding the oncoming vehicle.

The result was my car was so badly damaged it was written off.

The cause of the accident was an offending sign on the island in the middle of the intersection.

For vehicles coming to the beach, the sign is at ground level and shows two arrows, for going left to the beach, or straight ahead along Bucklands Beach Road. Heading home, and waiting to cross the road from Laings Road, the view from my BMW saloon, which is a fairly low to the ground vehicle, was completely blocked, as many people have experienced since the junction was modified a few months ago. The original sign was on a pole about two metres high, and was not a problem. The replacement sign however was a different story.

Vehicles coming along the main road were obscured from view when they were behind the sign, and in addition, the colour of the back of the sign is dark grey, as are the merging roads, and they just blend together. Even a vehicle as large as a utility momentarily disappears from view completely.

My insurer, the AA, had no hesitation in accepting the claim, it was paid out within 36 hours. That was the good news.

The bad news was that I suffered from shock, and banged my head and shoulder that became very stiff over the next few days. I was unable to swim, and in addition, I was without a vehicle, and resented the loss of my BMW, which I cherished, because of a signpost!

I had to hire a car and spend the whole weekend looking for a new one.

I was annoyed because the road signs are there to ‘help prevent’ accidents, when this ridiculous lowly placed sign obscured my view, momentarily admitted, but enough to write my car off. No sign should do that.

I cannot understand how the council could place a sign that obscures the driver’s view.

The one saving grace was the beamer had a high safety factor, and even the tow yard manager was surprised at the level of damage, saying it had to be a 4-wheel drive as no normal car could inflict damage like that to a beamer.

I have been to the council about the sign, which is now being attended to, and also the fact I suffered injury, trauma, believing for one short moment that my time was up!

Neil Armstrong Highland Park

The increased congestion and parking problems - traffic is already on both sides and is now already congested. As the current development only allows for six cars, there will be at least 11 extra cars on the road, and the average apartment will probably have two cars, so this may mean an extra 25 cars with nowhere to go. This will block the road particularly between 8am-9am and 2.45-3.15pm in the afternoon.

It will replace a 2-storey home, there is little green space and 17 apartments on a site is just not in keeping with the local area. With little green space and few trees this will contribute greatly to climate change which we are trying to stop.

Potentially with a further 2 sections to be developed this would lead to potentially another 34 apartments and exacerbate congestion problems even more. Howick is not accessible to rail and most people do not catch buses but instead use their cars. This is out of keeping with the whole street given that it is a road which contains a school and another two schools — Howick Intermediate and Pakuranga College are within 500m of it.

Some of the apartments are only 36m square which is not conducive to any person or family living in them. Banks will not even lend to 40m square apartments or less.

Please listen to your local community.

Howick will lose its unique heritage if these developments are allowed to continue.

Karen Purdie Howick