Letters to the editor: All Tauranga needs is a solution to its traffic problems

Tauranga doesn't need anything except a traffic fix, a reader says. Photo / File

No unnecessary spending

Isn't it incredible, Tauranga is experiencing its worst crisis of infrastructure ever and one of our councillors has researched amenities and attractions around New Zealand and come up with a goofy list of eight amenities he thinks we need (News, April 7). One of these is that we lack a 50m swimming pool, another a museum. What? We've talked about this, Max. Apparently, nobody else wants a museum and when Baywave was built, the council refused to give us a 50m pool. They gave us a 25m one instead. Max, no one comes to Tauranga for any reason other than to live or work. No one says: "We would move to Tauranga but they don't have a 50m swimming pool." Visitors only come to Tauranga because of Mount Maunganui and the beaches. Mount Maunganui has everything Tauranga lacks including vibrancy, that elusive quality that all of Max's mates say Tauranga will have if we spend enough ratepayers' money on things like his little list of amenities. The only thing we need at present is infrastructure and a solution to our traffic problems. In fact, our 10-year plan should only cover infrastructure improvements and maintenance. Embargo unnecessary expenditure for five years.
Dan Russell
Welcome Bay

Greener is better

What the Government has done with limiting exploration permits is just the beginning. With the vast majority of the world believing in climate change, consumption of fossil fuels will be punished more and more. And I say, "Great".
I love change when it is in the right direction. With the many amazing improvements in renewable power generation, battery technology, electric vehicles, smart grids, etc, the future is green. It is inevitable, not because it is cleaner, but because it is now cheaper. There will be many thousands of interesting new jobs created as we go greener.
So let's get with it rather than being naysayers like those who fought to keep the horse and buggy.
Mark Windsor
Welcome Bay

Important issue

Hylton Rhodes wondered how the End of Life Choice Bill can have over 70 per cent support when the majority of submissions to Parliament on this issue have been opposed (Letters, April 9). A poll conducted this year by Reid Research (who predicted the last election to within one per cent) found 70 per cent of New Zealanders support end-of-life choice, and 20 per cent oppose it with 10 per cent undecided. Public submissions, on the other hand, represent the views of people who make submissions to Parliament. While participating in politics is certainly admirable, nobody thinks this group reflects mainstream New Zealand. It would be like asking Greenpeace protesters what they think about oil drilling. We can guess the result but nobody would think these protesters reflect the country.

This isn't the first time we've seen submissions differfrom public opinion. Submissions on civil unions were overwhelmingly opposed (83 per cent) yet opinion polls showed the issue had 56 per cent support and 39 per cent opposition nationally.

It takes a strong conviction or opinion to write a submission. Many people will never bother but their opinions aren't any less valid. When everyone has an equal chance of being asked, we always find more New Zealanders are in agreement on wanting choice in how they go than on any other issue discussed today. (Abridged)
David Seymour
ACT party leader

Where's the cars?

I have recently driven the Eastern Link on a couple of occasions, a wonderful stretch of perfect highway, safety barriers, lovely smooth seal and a 110km hour speed limit. The only thing missing from this fabulous road was cars and trucks. I am left wondering who uses it and why it was built? Surely it would have been better if the previous Government had spent this money on the Northern Link through to Katikati where there is huge demand from the folks living in all of the new housing built out that way. What on earth were they thinking!
Russell Wenn
Oropi