Barking up the wrong tree: Letters, 23 August

The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Here you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.

Interfering busybodies get right up smoker's nose

Kelly Makiha may not be barking mad, but she is barking up the wrong tree in her editorial.

In the Government's efforts to save smokers from themselves (people who make a personal choice), they put the lives of innocent people at risk.

Why are their lives not as important as the lives of smokers?

Why save smokers only to jeopardise the lives of others?

I would live my life the way I chose, not the way Kelly or the Government chose, and what I do with my life and body should be none of their concern.

Unfortunately, Kelly disagrees.

Smokers would much prefer to sit quietly and have a cigarette, rather than be forced to go and rob a dairy first solely because government have taxed cigarettes beyond their means.

This situation is caused by two things: big government interference and immoral busybodies who do not understand the meaning of the words individual rights and personal responsibility.

By the way - it's not compulsory for dairy owners to stock cigarettes. And what kind of comment is that? "Criminals like their smokes."

A more appropriate headline to your editorial would be: "Let's stub out busybodies who steal rights".

(Abridged)

Graham Clark, Lower Kaimai

Nuclear family

With regard to the issue of homosexual marriage: the New Zealand Conservative Party is totally in tune with the vast majority of citizens who regard a "fully functioning nuclear family with one male and one female parent as the best possible environment in which to raise children".

This premise has been confirmed by various in-depth international studies on many occasions in modern times.

The New Zealand Conservative Party is definitely not a Christian or church-based organisation - rather, it is the last /best hope for a chance at real democracy in New Zealand, as it is the only party seeking to have binding citizens initiated referenda introduced as a matter of priority.Lance DonaldChristchurchWaterfront joyI have just enjoyed a stroll along the new waterfront in Tauranga.

How lovely it was to be able to walk along away from the traffic, appreciate the view and to see how many other people were doing the same. The walkway has been well built, is spacious and can be improved upon/added to as funds allow in the future. A huge step in the right direction to improving the waterfront facility for everyone. Only negative - not enough seats/benches as I think more will be needed, come the warmer months.

Sue Nunn, Tauranga

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter