Letters: All Tauranga ratepayers did not say no to museum

Bus lanes are designed for cities with lots of foot traffic, a reader writes.

All Tauranga ratepayers did not say no to museum

How can a reputable newspaper put out bold front-page headlines that say: "Ratepayers say no to museum plan" when only 30,587, or thereabouts, out of 95,585 eligible voters voted.

If ever there was a time for all ratepayers to say no to a museum, it was in this referendum: but 64,998, or thereabouts, did not vote - that is over half of the ratepayers in this city.

This referendum result leaves a strong message: over half of Tauranga voters are willing participants of a Tauranga Museum in some form or another. So perhaps we don't have to disappoint our young winners of the recent intermediate–primary museum competition after all. We may need to rethink how a museum is done – but overall, it's onwards and upwards for a Tauranga Museum! Something that is long overdue.

To all those voters who did not vote, I say, thank you - and "let the education begin" – "let's get it done" and "don't let's disappoint our kids and future generations who would thrive within contemporary museum programmes".

Charmian Brown
Tauranga

No to museum

Most voters don't want a museum for Tauranga, according to early referendum results.

Why spend taxpayers' money on a referendum when at the end nobody is listening anyway. Reading today: "The council's final decision on a museum will be made on June 28 when the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan is adopted."

Why waste more time and more money talking about the museum again and again and again?

It's is a no; do they not get it? No means no. How about focusing on the most critical issues we're facing here in Tauranga?

Spend the money wisely on roading and free school buses for all students. This should be the highest priority first and for all. Please wake up and listen to your locals what they really want. Definitely no museum.

Steffi and Fred August
Mount Maunganui

Just do it!

Mayor Dove Meyer Robinson in the 1960s made absolute sense about Auckland's then "pressing" public issue: transport (especially a harbour bridge and "public transport" generally around Auckland).

Fast forward 60 years and Auckland's biggest issue still is exactly the same - provision of appropriate transport. It's just that the issue is now of mammoth proportions.

Funding was always the fundamental stumbling-block.

The issue has to be addressed and solved.

Because of repeated delays, there is now only one socially equitable funding solution left.

Forget the cycleways, electric vehicles, egos - indeed everything peripheral.

Auckland, as our nation's principle commercial centre and hub, must be as efficient as is absolutely possible.

To do that - forget "localised" taxes, tolls and levies. Rather, borrow big (similar to the huge borrowings by the US while "quantitative easing" to solve 2008 GFC effects).

If national debt doubles - who in New Zealand really cares? It will be cheap finance 60 years from now.

As Nike says - "Just Do It"!

Politicians - cut the crap and get on with it. (Abridged)

Alan Trotter
Tauranga

Bus lanes needed?

Can anyone from our so capable council explain to me why every time I am sitting in traffic jams on Hewletts Rd city-bound buses fly by with no or one passenger in it?

Are there numbers available how many people actually use the buses to and from the city?

Bus lanes are designed for cities with lots of foot traffic and use by many commuters, not reserving a whole lane 24/ 7 for perhaps 10 to 15 buses (mostly empty) per day.

Wake up in your ivory tower, Tauranga Council, and help people who are actually productive and try to make money (and pay taxes) instead of wasting everybody's money.

Chris Vetter
Tauranga

Tax on imports
Interesting to see the government plan to get every last cent of GST on imports. The items I buy overseas are between two and five times as expensive here (for an identical item). Is this the level playing field local retailers have in mind?
Perhaps someone should have a look at the legal situation or ask the Commerce Commission to investigate. At least voters will eventually have their say. (Abridged)

Maurice McKeown
Welcome Bay