Letters, Tuesday July 26

Keeping Mauao safe and protected
"Start selling our beautiful area to the tourists," says Brian Kelly in his kick-start column (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, July 23). A campaign for a directional compass atop Mauao might be a well-intentioned voice but not at the expense of questioning the wisdom of local Maori.
If there was not a Maori kaitiaki (caretaker) group in place, we could well see Mauao end up like Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia or, closer to home, Mt Tarawera.
In the case of Uluru, it was rapidly eroding from far too much foot traffic, who treated it like the type of tourist attraction Mr Kelly wants Mauao to be.
Thankfully, Uluru was given back to local Aborigines to watch over and keep it as it has been for the last 40,000 years they had been in charge of it.
The same rules for Uluru should also be applied for Mauao. No cell phones, no food and no smoking - and no directional compass on top. None of the aforementioned will detract from the experience Mauao gives to all who climb to his crown.
Those of us who walk up around and over Mauao should treat it as a privilege.
The future direction of Mauao must be protected at all costs for the tamariki of tomorrow.
(Abridged)
T Kapai, Te Puna
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Plain talk
Re Plain talk please (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, July 25). Most of the corporate and business speak in the article originates from the US but is enthusiastically embraced by poorly educated Kiwis.
Jargon pervades all areas of New Zealand society. The words "cool" and "iconic" have become hackneyed and meaningless. The phrase "signed-off" is ridiculous when nothing is signed. Who knows what a "heads-up" means?
The word "mix" is used indiscriminately without thought to past, present or future tense, when often "mixed" or "mixture" are meant.
"Hub" is becoming common, probably used by those who cannot spell "centre".
Perry Harlen, Mount Maunganui
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New venue
Re Eileen Mitchell's letter (Your View, July 23).
Tauranga has a problem in that it has grown too fast. Roads are not yet gridlocked but are heading that way.
There is plenty of vibrant entertainment, art and culture in Tauranga if you take the trouble to look for it and it is not hard to find. I agree we have been "forced" to travel to Auckland or Hamilton to see the big international shows and stars. However, this is not peculiar to Tauranga as the same applies to similar size cities around NZ.
Eileen is obviously not aware that TCC is currently building a large sport and exhibition centre next to the stadium at Te Maunga which, hopefully, will attract major sports meets, international stars and shows to Tauranga. The first big "star" booked to perform here at the new facility is, I believe, Meat Loaf. So that is a great start.
It should not be TCC building more such facilities but enthusiastic private investors backed strongly by the local arts community as TCC is in debt over its head as it is.
Roger Bailey, Papamoa Beach
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Crematorium
Recently there has been an uproar over a second crematorium at the cemetery at Pyes Pa. There are four points that I do not believe have been raised in the debate.
1. No extra bodies will be disposed of as there are only a finite number of those at any given time. Therefore any air pollution will be exactly the same with one or two crematoria.
2. If a private organisation, albeit a trust, can provide this service for a profit, why does the council need to own and run one?
3. Is the council service subsidised by the ratepayer or is a profit centre?
4. If the service is a cost to the ratepayer, and not a profit centre, has there been any consideration given to Legacy taking over the current building and providing the whole service at no cost to the ratepayer?
Frances Denz, Tauranga