sad story/mistreatment

Amy from Parua Bay / Whangarei Heads

Our dear neighbors we would like to share our sad story with you. We are not a rich family, we can't afford to hire people, therefore we build everything ourselves. Few years ago we decided to build a swimming pool with our own hand. This swimming pool fulfills all council requirements with one exception. The gate does not open away from the pool area. The reason for that is the nature of the land. Our land is on a relatively steep slop and this prevents us from having a gate which can be opened on the other way. In order to comply with the buildings Act we have, however, placed the locking system on the interior of the gate and the gate can perfectly close automatically. In order to open the gate from outside the person needs to be at least 1.75 m tall. The Building Act requires restricted access to the pool for unsupervised children under the age of 5 years. After many correspondence with the council they want now to prosecute us and we feel this is not fair. Because we have done everything to comply with the purpose of the law.


The issue here is not our gate or our specific problem with the council. The issue is that those who are elected by us do what ever suits them. They never need to really consider us. They interpret the laws according to their own taste. They pass laws and regulations in an emergency style behind closed doors. AND, if we object their position they reply to us to take the legal procedure. We all know, too well, how expensive that can become. Here is the sad part of the story: We are marginalized to be only the source of income for the government without having any real voice.


Please send us your story if you have experienced similar injustice. Your story might give us some strength to cope with the situation. We can be strong together.