Letters to the Editor: 3-25 March 2004

Source: Waikato Times print edition

Wednesday, 3 March 2004

Work of art

It was encouraging to see two councillors taking a strong stand against the erection of the Riff Raff statue. I agree with them that we don't need to glorify transvestitism and would rather see some other work of art. However, I don't need to go to that end of town and will just withdraw my custom from
nearby shops.

Another issue I am concerned about is the emergence of brothels in suburban streets. I felt sorry for the residents who have discovered they have one in their street.

I know that I would not want a brothel in my street, therefore I would strongly recommend to council that signed consent must be obtained from all nearby residents before a brothel can be set up in a residential area.

JO ROGERS
Hamilton
 

Quaint statue

I am not surprised that council has approved the erection of a quaint statue in our midst, because it might be the nearest thing our pundits get to having a monument to themselves.

The terms Riff Raff and Rocky Horror Show strike a chord.

MICK HOLDEN
Hamilton

Stupid statue

What a sad decision has been made that $25,000 of ratepayers' money be spent on the proposed Riff Raff statue.

Thank goodness there are councillors who have had the common sense and voted against this stupid statue.

I personally would like to suggest that this money be spent upgrading the quality of the city water supply thus benefiting the people and visitors to our lovely "cow town" city and the heart of the best dairying country in the world.

Perhaps the Perry Foundation could donate their contribution to the upgrading also.

RENEE M FIFE
Hamilton

Fountain city

Perhaps Hamilton City Council could splash out to turn Riff Raff into a fountain? My suggestion would be water gushing out of him with flashing pink lights for Saturday night.

As he might be a bit lonely how about a colony of statue fountains to remember other colourful characters -- von Tempsky, poet warrior; Don Clarke, The Boot; Ewan Wilson, Crash and burner; Daniel Vettori, spin doctor. Others?

They could become a focal point for a whole new tourist attraction, drawing people down to the proposed footbridge.

G LEACH
Hamilton

Riff Raff no tranny

Will people please stop referring to the Richard O'Brien character Riff Raff as a transvestite!

Riff Raff is a butler and dresses accordingly.

The silver jammies, as depicted in the statue design, are Riff Raff wearing his space-suit!

The only transvestite in the production is that of Frank N Furter, played by Tim Curry.

To those opposed to transvestitism, please get your facts straight before criticising what this project is actually representing!

JON PREDDLE
Hamilton

Thursday, 4 March 2004

A HIT: The statue shows the character's costume in the Rocky Horror Show 

International hit

Richard O'Brien is a wonderful man, whose opinions and attitudes are life-affirming, inclusive and generous.

The Rocky Horror Show is a huge international hit and long-running stage show and movie, and is reason enough for Hamilton to celebrate him. He is also a compassionate and inspirational human being. His work in theatre and film runs the gamut, from community theatre with handicapped children to being the voice of Zebedi in the upcoming film of children's favourite The Magic Roundabout.

How can there be any objection to celebrating such a man?

His connection with Hamilton and his love of the "late-night double-feature" at the Embassy has been covered in myriad magazine interviews, websites and in at least one television documentary. Richard O'Brien is Hamilton's one claim to fame in the international movie world -- and look what Peter
Jackson has done for other parts of the country! Besides, if Hamilton doesn't go ahead with this project, Tauranga (where his family now lives) will leap on it with alacrity -- and a fair amount of gloating I should imagine.

As for anyone who objects to the statue on the grounds that it is a man in fishnets, that's the character's costume for goodness sake! If Hamilton had produced Bela Lugosi, would they object to a statue of a man with fangs and heavy make-up?

It's what a person stands for, what they believe in, what they have achieved that counts. (Abridged)

PENNI BOUSFIELD
Wellington

Friday, 5 March 2004

Role model

Richard O'Brien is someone this city should be proud of. He is a role model  for our youth. He is a creative genius. There are more people in the world who know and love his work than there are people who know or care where Hamilton city is.

The proposed statue of him in costume as his creation Riff Raff is delightful. It deserves to be placed in the centre of Garden Place.

Every piece of sculpture that graces our city has been erected to a chorus of petty, provincial philistinism.

It is utterly predictable that Jocelyn Marshall , whose own amateur efforts at musical creativity have failed to set the world on fire, should oppose this tribute to a genuinely talented man with an unequalled international reputation.

P J MURPHY
Hamilton

Cult character

For years Hamilton has searched for an appealing title to highlight its beauty, its strengths and to give an identity. The search appears to be over. Our city council will use $125,000 from our rates to purchase a statue of Riff Raff, the character in the Rocky Horror cult musical.

Many people objected to the title "cow city", but just imagine living in "Rocky Horror City" or "Riff Raff City".

Riff-raff means "the scum of the people; rubbish". Is that how we want to highlight our city and to attract such people here to pay their homage to such an idol?

KEITH M HARRY
Hamilton

Monday, 8 March 2004 

Bus fares

In Hamilton there is the need to encourage more people to use buses rather than private motor vehicles, both from a parking perspective and environmentally. So I was really pleased that the Hamilton City Council has supported discounted bus fares for our pensioners.

However, another more material concern is the issue of providing buses for our young people on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

In essence we should fund additional bus services, as many young people would benefit. It could mitigate the problematic issues with young people who usually spend their cash and are then faced with a long hike home.

In contrast a statue to honour Richard O'Brien is being considered for funding to the extent of $25,000 from Hamilton City Council. While I agree that the statue is honouring a person of international artistic repute, given the choice I would opt for additional bus services.

It is all about priorities -- and it would be better for the city if the fundraising for the statue was directed at philanthropic trusts, and ratepayer funds were directed at areas of real social and environmental need.

DAVID LAIRD
Hamilton
 

Tuesday, 9 March 2004

Flair, not kitsch

Let us give due credit where it belongs. The council is discussing the possibility of erecting a statue in a prominent place.

I suspect the choice of Richard O'Brien, whether produced by Weta Workshop, or a bronze statue as envisaged by Pippa Mahood, was made because of the subject's popularity, celebrity, etc.

Most Hamiltonians under 50 know the Rocky Horror Show. Indeed, I think it is relevant that at least one production of this work is being performed somewhere in the world at this time, to say nothing of the film which is a favourite among film societies.

Many people, however, think the subject unworthy of celebration. I suspect if Michelangelo's David was placed in the centre of Garden Place there would be equal objection, though not one hopes to its aesthetic value.

An elected council, however good and great, is not a true indication that the work proposed will become a monument for civic pride.

The choice should have been given over to an art gallery director, a prominent New Zealand sculptor, a university art historian and two citizens who have an interest in the subject. What we really need is something with flair, style, definitely not kitsch!

G G MOORE
Hamilton

`Riff Raff Hamilton'

Eureka! We have found it! Success at last. After years of searching for an "identity brand", the perfect answer -- Riff Raff Hamilton.

We have no doubt that this would be a popular move and thoroughly enjoyed by the people of the Greater Waikato and the rest of New Zealand.

M and B WALTER
Te Awamutu

Saturday, 13 March 2004

Cow town or riff raff

Hamilton is soon to be known as Rocky centre of the world, Riff Raff city !

Doesn't that just excite you? Not me! I'd much rather live in "cow town" than in "the scum of the earth, rubbish" town! (as Keith Harry, above, described the words riff raff).

I'm afraid that I may have more commonsense than many of the people of the council who agreed to this -- and I'm only 16.

How can councillors who are parents agree to this and tell their kids it's okay to be like this person, this "hero"?

I hate to imagine having to see this grotesque statue any time I want to go into town.

Sure, "cow town" may seem like Hamilton -- primitive -- but I'd rather be primitive than have more Riff Raff fans hanging around. I feel much safer around the cows!

I hope the council gets its thoughts straight and doesn't let this statue go up.

It will disgrace our town, not help it look good!

LYDIA PIPER
Hamilton

Despair at lack of culture

I've followed the comments about the so-called Riff Raff with some despair.

I well remember the debates and anger over Little Bull, the Gods in the Gardens and the Farming Family, to mention a few. But then, there's only been a few, unfortunately, to argue about.

Poor for a city of rapidly-growing Hamilton's size with its vibrant centre of arts and artists.

The late Buck Nin had a wonderful vision of sculptures, marking our bridges, welcoming visitors and giving us all pleasure. No takers then and unlikely to be now.

Debate is healthy, not bitter wrangling, for each of us is unique, fortunately not clones.

My present concern is about the gob-stopping display in the Thornton Gallery of Fred Graham's works of art, arresting in their own right. They are also historic, culturally important records of our past, yours and mine, before and now , and no doubt in the future.

Rob Gardner, we miss you. Another undervalued contributor and benefactor to the arts of Hamilton. Any other far-sighted sponsors out there?

NOELINE NUTTALL
Hamilton

Monday, 15 March 2004

Step backwards

I was under the impression we were to have an improved newspaper, but after reading reporter Geoff Taylor's article (Waikato Times, March 6) you have taken a big step backwards.

He started off by calling the Riff Raff statue and the brothel scandal as two piffling issues. The rest was devoted to rubbishing Cr Roger Hennebry, which I strongly resent as this man has worked very hard on our behalf and upholds the standards of decency. How can Taylor represent the Waikato Times or be judgmental, considering he condemned the police for breathalysing the public then boasted of drinking what he called a six pack, then going on a joy ride, knowingly breaking the law? (Abridged)

ELLEN CROALL
Hamilton

Tuesday, 16 March 2004

Action led to success

Geoff Taylor's article (Waikato Times, March 6) was a disappointing load of drivel. I found the linkage between the photograph, which is nearly three years old, and the current city council's determination of whether to pay $25,000 for its contribution to the proposed Riff Raff statue to be rather tenuous at best. The other argument regarding Roger Hennebry's view about brothels is even more surreal.

To anyone with common sense, our action during 2001 was to get attention, publicity and awareness of our intention to stand for the Hamilton City Council election as part of the Proudly Independent team. Subsequently both Roger and I have modified our political strategy to stating and explaining more accurately what we stand for.

Roger was successful at getting elected, and to this end has done an exemplary job, clearly worrying the incompetent old guard that permeate the current city council. During 2002, I was part of Garry Mallett's Power Rebates team, and we cleaned up during the 2002 Wel Energy Trust election with all our team getting elected. Like Roger, our success was and is based on principle and policy.

We need councillors like Roger Hennebry, who are as straight as a die and are not going to be intimidated. (Abridged)

DAVID LAIRD
Hamilton

Thursday, 25 March 2004

Reviled figure

I've read with interest the opposition letters some people are writing in regards to the soon-to-be-erected statue of Riff Raff. I think there needs to be a bit of perspective here! Riff Raff is a character in a musical, not some reviled figure in history.

This whole "debate" reminds me of the uproar in some quarters a few years ago with the placement of the Egyptian god statues at Hamilton Gardens. Will some people ever learn to get past their narrow-mindedness and accept things that are a bit different?

The fact is that the council has voted overwhelmingly to go ahead with the statue so I think those people who are so vehemently opposed to it really need to move on. (Abridged)

A IRVING
Hamilton