Drivers need to count, one thousand and one, one thousand and two on dry roads and up to one thousand and three or more on wet roads.
We let tailgaters pass, pulling over at the first opportunity.
Garth Bagnall
Mount Maunganui
Housing a bigger priority
Government spending is at record highs and taxpayers are paying more than $100 million to house homeless people in motel units throughout New Zealand.
Undoubtedly, in this group, many of these people collectively include Māori who the Government has compassionately pledged to help.
In the 2021 Budget, politicians set aside $48m to fund Māori language, so the question is, is this a greater priority than being housed?
At least 120 houses each at $400,000 could be built with $48m.
Luckily, we have enough communication skills to get by and it would be interesting to canvas those (particularly Māori) in homeless situations for their opinion as to their preference so as to derive a people's opinion rather than the political stunt.
Of course, in my raising of this point, someone is bound to pull out the racial card, but this is not what it is about, I am merely suggesting addressing the housing crisis is more urgent.
A prudent Government should use taxpayer funds wisely for the greatest benefit while avoiding a debt-blowout risk.
Jos Nagels
Brookfield
Totally disgusted
I cannot imagine why you have even let the editorial by Jo Raphael about the stench of racism in the air even go to print.
Can people not come to terms with the fact that no one is 100 per cent one race or another and we are all of mixed race?
Get your DNA done as I have and you will find I am right.
We all have perhaps different ancestry but that is all.
Underneath we are all the same. No one can say they are of a single race in this day and age.
Please stop trying to fuel a fire that really isn't there by allowing these sorts of inflammatory editorials. I thought newspapers were supposed to be neutral or at least print both sides to this?
As a proud New Zealander, I am totally disgusted.
Linda Askin
Bethlehem
Thank you
I wanted to thank the kind and quick-thinking Courier Post driver, and dog walkers, who found my mother unconscious outside her Otumoetai house on Friday.
Thankfully, they called for an ambulance, and she was taken to hospital in a very short time.
My mother is recovering well but without the intervention and help of these great citizens, the story may have turned out very differently.
Chris Buckley
Matua
The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following:
• Letters should not exceed 200 words.
• They should be opinion based on facts or current events.
• If possible, please email.
• No noms de plume.
• Letters will be published with names and suburb/city.
• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only.
• Local letter writers given preference.
• Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged.
• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor's discretion.
• The Editor's decision on publication is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
Email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz
