Now (we have) the devastating PSA that was imported into NZ through quarantine.
It didn't come from an innocent tourist coming into the Rotorua International Airport or by any of the thousands that come through the Tauranga port on the 50-odd cruise ships but by the import of infected pollen and rootstock by the very companies that objected to an international airport at Tauranga.
Isn't the tourist industry a bigger earner than the kiwifruit industry?
Wouldn't it now be the time to rethink the idea of attracting an overseas airline to bring in the extra income that will be needed with the demise of the kiwi gold industry?
Ken Cooper, Papamoa
Lucky cherry
It is the time of year when we realise how lucky we are to have the Taiwan Cherry. This magnificent tree with its deep red blossom giving a wonderful splash of colour to brighten our bleak mid-winter days.
Richard Prince, Welcome Bay
Out of context
I would like to reassure Rahim Buksh (Your View, August 15) that I do not think the neighbours of the lady found injured outside her house were in any way uncaring. The reporter who wrote the story asked what I could suggest in general terms to support people who lived alone, not a solution to this particular incident. I agree there are many different ways to show you care for others and I certainly did not judge neighbours in this case.
No matter how caring or careful we are sometimes things happen that are beyond anyone's control. Being reported in the press has its hazards and it is easy for things to be taken out of context and misunderstood.
Angela Scott, Age Concern
Alcohol thoughts
The article in the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend (August 6) where they advocated that it is time to enforce zero alcohol law for all drivers made thoughtful reading.
Elsewhere in the same paper you printed a list of those people who were convicted of drink-driving in July. Not one of these people was a teenager.
Why the law was changed for only the young in our society is beyond comprehension.
Lawrence Woods, Katikati
Capsicum capers
Until a few years ago, we grew capsicums commercially. To grow a single capsicum cost us about 8 cents each. The most we could get for that capsicum through the auction house or distributor was 25 cents each. The very same capsicum would sell in the supermarket up to $2.25 each.
So where did that $2 difference come from? I approached my nearest supermarket. Regardless of not charging for delivery, the supermarket would not give more than 25 cents for each capsicum. Take that, customer. And take that grower; at 25 cents each we couldn't hire staff, couldn't sustain the operation, and had no power to negotiate with the big traders who openly didn't want to conduct sales relationships with other operations no matter how good the price.
We eventually got out of capsicums after seven years, and in fairness it was the farmers' markets that kept us going because they were so much fun despite the early starts.
There is no way our fresh food prices are so high due to global markets when I can take my fresh crop to the supermarket door for a fraction of the profit supermarkets are putting on each fruit. Unfair Trade.
(Abridged)
Geoff Canham, Omokoroa
Reimbursed
In response to a query from JW van den Hoven of Brookfield (Your View, August 11) following the appearance in court of a former employee on dishonesty charges:
I can confirm that the victim was fully reimbursed for her loss.
Chris MiramsMedia relations manager, Corporate Affairs, Westpac
Text Views
* id lk the council 2 tel me 2 pull my castle down. wheres our kiwi no 8 mentality passion taken from us
* synthetc canabis shld b dstroyd nt shipd elswher. and wat abt the nw crap theyr selin kids, "spice" etc, and marketn it as "incense" nt 4 human cnsumptn!
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