The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper this weekend.
THIS WEEKEND'S LETTERS
Thoughts with brave young cancer battlers
Re: "The long battle against leukaemia" (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 2).
I sympathise with your struggle with your son's leukaemia. It is a nasty disease and takes its toll on you, your family and your extended family. One of my nephews fought leukaemia at 3 years old and my friend's teen son also fought it.
We were some of the lucky ones as they are both healthy and well - but we know so many children and teens who didn't make it.
Please know that we are thinking of you and praying for you during this time. The Child Cancer Foundation do a fantastic job, so embrace them and let your family and friends support you and your son.
Maureen Ward, Greerton
'Mumspiration'
Kia ora. Re: "Mum's the word in this office" (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 2).
One of the most interesting reads from the Bay of Plenty Times. Inspirational, informative, well researched and written.
Congratulations to the "mumpreneurs" and your writer Ellen Irvine.
Raewyn Bennett, Te Puke
Damaging image
I do look forward to reading your new Bay of Plenty Times Weekend - well done. I find your popular handout Indulge interesting reading and the front cover eye-catching and original.
However, the March 26 issue was disappointing with its headline "Winning looks", which featured an anorexic-looking female model.
One sees similar photos of young girls from starving countries.
This image would hardly represent your readers and really I thought that society had grown up and moved on when it came to acknowledging the female figure.
The large figure can look beautiful.
I am not jealous - I am older and thin but am concerned that many young girls are risking their lives, especially their bones, desperately trying to look like the cover girl.
Jessica Elaine Rickard,Te Puke
Siren solution
With regard to the "great siren debate" and its ongoing arguments and dearth of action - what is wrong with the simple solution adopted by Britain during the blitz?
The sirens could be heard by all day or night and, according to my mother, were loud enough to wake the dead!
They involved nothing more complicated than a series of electric or hand-driven motors (both types were used) with shaped fan blades - no consultants needed and no great expense.
Placed on top of high buildings in strategic places - the penthouses on Marine Pde come to mind - or elevated pylons along the coast line, they would be extremely effective.
It seems we can spend millions on imitation reefs for the surfers and huge amounts of ratepayer money to prop up Baywave and the Art Gallery - all very nice and handy but not life-and-death necessity.
Come to, councillors; get off your collective backsides and do something really constructive to earn your salaries. Comments from the mayor or local MPs would be appreciated.
Rachel Lowrie, Mount Maunganui
Tsunami alerts
Re: Tsunami warnings - Sirens are the only way to go.
Hawaii has them. On Maui they are tested on the last Friday of each month at midday.
We were a long way from one on a test day and heard it loud and clear. So loud I'm sure it was a recycled air-raid siren.
Joy MacGregor, Tauranga
Restore discipline
Re: Guest editorial (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 2).
Bob Grant is quite right. Discipline in schools must be restored. Children without discipline become undisciplined adults, giving rise to incidents like road rage. School bullies become workplace bullies.Mike PhiloKatikatiSell Masonic ParkRe: "New buildings for old in downtown Tauranga" (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 2).
Sell the developers Masonic Park and the council can be rid of the problems over removing the carparks and the expense of employing consultants to design the future use of the park.
The council can then use the proceeds to pay off debt.
The developers are the main beneficiaries from using the park at present with the Horny Bull extension, access to their premises and a pleasant outlook.
The new development is dependent on access from the park and for outside seating for their patrons.
The developers would also then be able to comply with council rules and by using the carpark spaces in the park they could avoid the parking impact fee of $100,000.
A win-win situation all round.
Bruce Rainey, Mount Maunganui
Learning culture
Re: Bob Grant's guest editorial (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 2). His answer to the bullying issue exemplifies much of why it's becoming more problematic.
"Tough discipline" is in synch. with preserving the culture of violence that's endemic in schools. Violence shows up as the failure experienced by students with limited social capital; as the learning dependency of those who fail to become independent learners; as wholesale educational failure to thrive coming from the daily experience of an inherently flawed learning model - the well-proven reason all are not learning as well as nature intended.
Calls for "tough discipline" serve only to mask the marked reluctance the education sector shows to invest time, effort and innovation into securing the so sorely needed improvements in learning culture that world-class research now flags as possible.
Given the many failed responses to bullying, it irks me to see there's no one advocating for more equitable, more learner-friendly and more efficient learning environments.
Glass-half-full people see these as the antidote to systemic violence existing in all schools. Time for change, I reckon. Let's make schools spawning grounds for societal good.
Laurie Loper, Tauranga
Thanks for CRC
Over the past few weeks there have been a lot of negative letters being written and complaints about this thing and the next thing.
Well, I would just like to say a big thank you to the lovely ladies at the Harbour City Motor Inn who came to my rescue on Friday morning.
I was in town to purchase a bus ticket to Palmerston North. When I returned to my car, in went the key to unlock the door and then, oh no, the key would not come out of the lock. It was stuck firm.
After what seemed an eternity I remembered three important letters - CRC. I went into Harbour City Motor Inn, where I shared my predicament with the friendly front-desk receptionist.
Without a second thought she was gone, and returned moments later with a dusty, nearly empty can of CRC. Within a space of 10 seconds I was back to return the can.
The key was removed safely and the car could get me home.
While driving home I realised that sometimes we forget to be thankful for the little things that happen in our day.
What could have turned out more stressful ended pleasantly because of the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff at Harbour City Motor Inn.
Thank you.
Hineawe Rangi, Tauranga
Surcharge critics
I am appalled at the criticism levelled at the local restaurant owners on The Strand and elsewhere in this town over Easter surcharges.
How is that everyone else in this town can increase their prices to cover costs and there is no outcry, and these increased costs stay in place?
Restaurant owners are only putting the surcharge on to cover their increased costs for the Easter break, not continuing with them.
They have to make a living like anyone else.
I find it interesting that these businesses are targeted and no one else.
Why should they be expected to run at a loss over Easter?
I also wonder who instigated this article.
I, for one, will be eating out over Easter without any objection to paying the surcharge.
W Roberts, Welcome Bay
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