Letters: Tauranga's new bus service is a disaster

A letter writer is disgusted with the city's new bus system here in Tauranga. Photo/File.

I am just writing to express my total disgust at the new bus system here in Tauranga.

Before this latest change, everyone knew the routes and the timetables were simple to understand and read but now after these so-called experts have rearranged the routes and times. It is a total disaster.

I thought I would patronise and support the buses but after today's latest experience I am now totally giving up and going back to using my car.

Today I had to wait over 20 minutes for the bus to arrive and I gave up in the end and had to walk instead.

Before, you could just use the one bus to get to where you wanted to go but now some routes you have to change buses two or more times.

It just isn't good enough.

Isn't anyone held accountable these days for all these expensive muck-ups?

Thelma Sealey
Brookfield

In defence of the rays

Each year, I encounter thousands of eagle rays and short-tail stingrays and, on occasion, long-tail stingrays in Tauranga Harbour while fly-fishing for kingfish.

The kingfish swim with short-tail stingrays and this is what I wade the flats looking for, as it gives me the opportunity to catch, tag and release the kings.

The short-tails are armed with large barbs on their tail, sometimes three, which they will use to defend themselves.

They are very inquisitive and will often swim up to within a metre of me. Sometimes, when approached while lying still on the bottom, the short-tail will raise its tail as a warning and, on rare occasions, they will not move.

This is when a carelessly placed foot can result in an injury to the public. They will never attack and their fearsome barbs are solely for defence.

As part of our harbour's natural ecosystem, all the rays deserve our respect and not be subjected to hysteria, hunted by barbaric bow fishers or have their tails cut off before being released by fishermen. Stingrays have more reason to fear humans than the other way around.

Dick Marguand
Ōtumoetai

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