Further, with no real transparency or accountability, and inadequate monitoring processes, it is extremely difficult for a member of the public to work out whether a facility provides good quality care - or not.
Within the report were stories of neglect and abuse of residents given anti-psychotic medication to sedate them and make them easier to manage; of residents being left in bed for entire weekends, or left for hours after a fall; of residents not being toileted regularly, resulting in incontinence.
We are systematically failing some of our oldest and most vulnerable citizens.
G McISAAC, Ohauiti
It's not about you
I have already written a letter to congratulate the Tauranga City Council for the black flag. Why do we have to listen to the whingeing from the likes of Perry Harlen (all the time) about issues that don't matter - they are not life-threatening, they are not affecting lives but this man continues to get "paper time". Please Mr Harlen, life is not about you and the sooner you realise it the better off we all will be. Enjoy your life - stop complaining.
GAYLE BRUCE, Judea
Retro legislation
Of grave concern to me and many others is the blatant attempt by John Key and his government to alter the course of natural justice and thus fly in the face of what passes for a democracy in New Zealand.
We have a perfect example of smoke and mirrors legislation-passing in retrospect in the case of police powers of surveillance on private property. Strange how, when a law doesn't suit the government's plans, it sets out in urgency to change it, regardless of whether or not it happens to be unlawful to do so.
The Government's intention to overrule the Supreme Court's ruling is wrong; it seeks to validate illegal actions by the police prior to the ruling by the highest law court in the land; are the Government and police above the law?
If Mr Key's Government is permitted to get away with this brazen disrespect for the law, it will be contrary to fundamental constitutional principles and a serious violation of human rights.
Many people believe that there is a lawful process by which we arrive at a declaration of guilt or innocence. Unless due process has been removed from the statute books, how does Mr Key propose lawfully to carry this through?
(Abridged)
MIKE FRANCIS-ROBERSON, President, Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand
We, the people
Prime Minister John Key whilst in Tauranga said that there were 328,000 working age New Zealanders on a benefit - giving many a standard of living, which they have not earned, at the expense of those who labour.
He highlighted that in the 1970s 1 to 2 per cent of working age people were out of work. This figure has now grown to 13 per cent, which is not acceptable, and is a reflection on our society. In a democracy it is the population as much as that of the government to address this sad situation.
The word democracy is derived from two Greek words, one meaning "people" the other being "strength" - "government by the people".
Pericles (c 495-429 BC) became the leader of the Athenian Democratic Party (probably the first democratic state in the ancient world) and during his years he witnessed the climax of that state's civilisation.
The Parthenon still stands today as a shrine to all the democratically ruled countries.
He is reputed to have said that "a person who contributes nothing, is good for nothing".
EWEN LOWDEN, Te Puke
Valid complaint
Re: Flagpole - Takitimu Drive.
Your Editorial (September 22) misses the point. This is not about supporting the All Blacks or flying a black flag. Tauranga City Council admits the NZ national flag only must be flown from this flagpole and that a black flag breaches the RMA consent conditions.
The complaints made by Mr Harlen and others are valid.
Council is the consenting authority, the consent holder and the enforcement authority.
This is not an inadvertent technical breach, it is a deliberate breach of the RMA Consent that can be readily remedied by the TCC staffer that authorised it in five minutes by removing the offending black flag and flying the NZ national flag.
Council is also in breach of flag protocol.
It is appalling that council don't even see fit to fly the NZ National flag or any flag from the City Hall flagpole.
No objection to council flying a black flag from City Hall nor per se to a black flag.
Council's dog in a manger attitude sets a dangerous precedent for those who wish to flout RMA consent conditions.
If anyone doesn't like the rule of law, go to a Third World country.
(Abridged)
R PATERSON, Matapihi
Legalise cannabis
Bob Clarkson and Don Brash's stance on the prohibition of cannabis deserves close consideration from all political parties. Taxpayers fund the cost of prohibition, which has been estimated at $100 million per year.
This is despite the fact that prohibition clearly doesn't work, with the World Health Organisation estimating that 14.6 per cent of New Zealanders used cannabis in the last year, compared with just under 5 per cent of people in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the experience in South Australia and Western Australia strongly suggests that the changes to the legal status of cannabis do not result in more people using it.
Tobacco use is falling due to education and regulation; cannabis use is increasing, perhaps due to the fact that the market for cannabis is left in the hands of criminal gangs.
It is good to see some politicians thinking about the real issues here rather than jumping to the conclusion that the current policy reduces the use of cannabis or can be justified in terms of cost. The money spent on prohibition could fund better healthcare and education or lower taxes.
What is John Key more committed to - keeping the retirement age at 65, or prohibition? Both cost money.
I would suggest that the priorities are clear to the vast majority of New Zealanders.
CALEB ARMSTRONG, Otumoetai
Texts
* yes boaties should pay something towards it. But each rescued mission is different whether police or sar or nzrcc or u got helo or fixed wind r involved
* name and shame the idiot boatie bros if they dont pay 4 their rescue.
* Legalise cannabis use n put funds savd to beta use. signd Mt nana* Y nt make it legal.. i dnt thnk its any difrnt 2 alcohol or tobaco? i dnt smoke it, nevr hav nevr wil. Spnd al those milions of $ on the bigr stuf.
Website
Editorial: Delete the ad in haka TV gap
It doesn't sound good, but then that is just another reason to watch on Maori TV. I fear for its future though as it is surely one of our best TV stations along with TVNZ7 which we are apparently enjoying too much and thus will have to go. Let's hope we can keep the marauding bean counters in the treasury away from Maori TV.
Richard Moore: Wave of outrage forms across Tasman
* There has always been a healthy rivalry - enjoyed by both nations, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Kiwi's getting behind the other nations in our pool, but I find it difficult to digest that Kiwi's will be supporting the Springboks in the the QF against Australia ...
* Awww the poor widdle Aussies got their feelings hurt! Who here hasn't had relentless abuse from some Aussies in Australia when attending sporting fixtures there?I doubt we would be hearing any complaints if they had beaten the Irish.
* Well done Richard. As a Kiwi living in Australia I have been appalled by the ill-informed bigotry coming from the east side of the Tasman. I've been treated very well in this country and I don't need meatheads in NZ making trouble.
Bar owners to help pay for screen
* Thanks to the BOP times for covering this story, its got legs like Rachel Hunter ... frankly the TCC got caught with its pants down BIGTIME and is in a very unenviable position over this dismal failure. Like it or not the TCC has a CULTURAL and COMMUNITY responsibility to ratepayers to organise things like the fanzones. Cr Guy needs a good kick in the pants with his attitude, the funding of the fanzone is simply closing the loop on the whole process. Its what we as taxpayers get in return for paying for the whole RWC in the first place!! To those who have supported the effort so far, I salute you. Together we will get this issue successfully sorted.
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