Dr Mawera Karetai

n response to D Dawson’s letter in the Beacon, (March 18), containing more information from the Taxpayer Union.

The $900,000 for Dargaville Racecourse was from the Provincial Growth Fund, and was to help support the investigation of redevelopment of the racecourse into a residential housing and a retirement village.

The project, supported by the Minister of Economic Development, Shane Jones, did not end up going ahead.

The $27 million for Naenae Pool was co-funded by the council, to reopen the pool and fitness building, after it was closed due to being earthquake prone.

This funding also included $12 million for the establishment of a sports hub at Maidstone Park, accommodating many sporting codes in the community.

I encourage you to have a look at Maidstone Park – it would be great to have something like that here in Whakatāne.

The $40 million Olympic-sized pool development in Gisborne included relocating the old pool facility (opened in 1974) due to the existing pool being on top of ageing, critical pipe infrastructure.

The old pool was an outdoor facility, open only in the summer months. The new pool is open year-round for the whole community to enjoy, for sport and recreation.

I can’t comment on the hotpools and spa facility, since you have not named it or stated its location.

You have simply said “iwi-owned”. Actually, all of these projects are partially “iwi-owned”, since Māori are ratepayers, too.

Google had no reference to a Kauri Museum receiving $3.5 million. Perhaps it had a different name?

There was a $3 million Provincial Growth Fund grant, and further funding from Lotteries, for the development of a forest walkway, and the redevelopment of the museum.

The Green School $8 million seems to be a bit of confusion on the part of the writer, or misinformation for the Taxpayer Union.

There was a contribution to the establishment of a Green School in Taranaki, but it was not $8 million. Also, this is a whole lot less than what the present Government has spent on charter schools – the Government is investing over 500 times more money per student into charter school education, with lower thresholds for professional teaching, and different standards of education.

Our public schools use money to educate students. Charter school use educating students to make money.