Saved the Point - Dammit.

Since you're all dying to know of my recent adventures, I'll tell you (how kind I am!). I walked with Nat around Lyall Bay and Houghton Bay and we came across huge belt-like seaweed, got chased by a huge swarm of angry flying insects that came out of a small bush, looked at Te Raekaihau Point, and came across a large collection of used condoms wrapped in tissues by the sea. Odd. I decided that I was all for the aquarium when realizing that the 'point' was just like every other point out there: rocks, sea, and seaweed. Bring on a cafe close to my place, and improved bus routes I say. There's been a bit of a deal about people against the aquarium proposed by the government and the signs have changed from "Save the Point" to "Saved the Point". I guess that means no aquarium :(

Some of the reasons why they don't want it built:

• Te Raekaihau Point is a place of outstanding natural beauty.

Yep, quite a generic lame defense though. Also it does seem like one of the less attractive points out there: used contraception and tissues scattered around (honestly there were about 20 or 30), there are clumsy gravel and dirt roads squiggling all over it, and it looks like a place boyracers like going to do burnouts. Go nature!

• It is spectacular in wild, stormy weather when wind, rain and waves rage against it and throw spume and spray to the sky. Equally stunning are the sunsets and magnificent views of the South Island on calm, clear evenings.

It gets weather, just like the next point. I'm pretty sure I can see the South Island from the next point too (actually it is visible from most of the lower part of the North Island as long you are on the coast or on a big hill). Also you can see sunsets from quite a few places.

• Te Raekaihau Point has significant geological, ecological, scenic and landscape values. It is also an important recreation area for local people and visitors to the city. Because of these values it should be protected from development and managed as a scenic reserve which everybody has access to.

What a load of bullcrap. It came up out of the sea in an earthquake in 1855, so it didn't used to be there and you were fine - now it's there no one is allowed to use it? Especially for a marine education centre? I reckon they're an anti-learning corporation working for the government, trying to dumb down marine knowledge in future generations so they can take over the sea bit by bit, to overthrow the world with SEA-POWER! Water guns, water bombs, wacky waves, freaky fish, sneaky salt water, mischievous moss, abominable algae, terrifying turtles, the list goes on (somewhere).

Oh yes, I also eat whale sandwiches every day. Yum yum. I won a lifetime supply from under the lid on the tin. This paragraph may or may not be true.