Bad drivers: Letters, 6 September

No killer roads - just bad drivers

Re Five crashes in 90 minutes (News, August 31).

I have written to the transport department many times telling them speed is not the major factor in crashes - it's the three I's: Intoxication (booze and drugs); Inattention (not watching the roads); Inability (unable to control the car in the situation they put themselves in).

There are no dangerous roads or killer roads, people blame them, just bad drivers plus the three I's.

A Fenson, Tauranga

Put pen to paper

Given the popularity of family and local history with Kiwis, your readers might like to know about a brand-new writing competition organised by the Bay of Plenty region of the Society of Authors.

In addition to generous cash rewards for the first three prizewinners, we've added two additional prizes.

One is for young writers aged 13-18, because we want to encourage the upcoming generation.

The other is for a Bay of Plenty memory, because Bay of Plenty is who we are. We're asking your readers to send us their best writing on where they live, who they know or some event with special meaning for them.

All entries will be published on the National Kete, a database archive presenting New Zealand's people and places, past and present, to the world.

Our two judges are both well-known writers.

Susan Brocker has won awards for her young adult novels, like Dream of Warriors or Brave Bess and the Anzac Horses, all based on careful historical research.

Tommy Wilson, creator of Kapai the Kiwi, is presently working on a history of the Bay's iconic landmark, Mauao.

Full details by email to nzsabop@gmail.com.

The closing date is October 31.

Jenny Argante, Regional Delegate NZSA BOP

Move with times

Re Baby unit a public need (Our View, September 5). Thank you for doing this article and the follow-up article the other day they where both fantastic. I agree with your statement: "The transition from sleepy seaside town to metropolitan has been difficult for Tauranga and the city regularly struggles to keep up with growth."

Not only does Tauranga need a birthing unit, look at rubbish collection. I believe in every other city rubbish collection is included in your rates prices, along with free swimming pools. Yet in Tauranga we have extremely high rates and we still have to pay for our collection.

Tauranga is a fantastic city but needs to move with the times.

L and R Werahiko

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