In reply to R Kenyon's letter ‘Papamoa digs poses prickly dilemma' (The Sun, November 15), my family and I would prefer to get prickles in our feet or have to wear jandals/sandals in the summer in preference to being poisoned.
We object strongly to being subjected to deadly chemical residue as we walk on, play in and inhabit the Papamoa/Mount Maunganui beach areas.
Chemicals used in agriculture and weed killing are accumulative in our sand and soil. They cause illnesses in humans, animals, creatures and plants in our beach areas.
Statistics show the Bay of Plenty to be one of the four main areas in New Zealand with a huge usage of agrichemicals and weed sprays.
The incidence of asthma, skin rashes and chronic illnesses is also higher than the national average.
Onehunga Weed is now poison or spray-resistant.
This is because it abides by nature's law of becoming stronger in the face of annihilation.
It can be sprayed every year, but the following season it will be back bigger and better than ever.
As long as we have wind, birds to carry seeds, the transfer of soil and plants to and from other areas, then Onehunga Weed seeds will always continue to grow in abundance.
J Duncan, Papamoa Beach.