Our people work hard and are proud of the service we provide to our communities and believe that your labelling us a big unfriendly corporate due to the feedback of one customer is insulting to all of our hard working staff, unfair and unreasonable.
Neil Holdom, Corporate Affairs Manager, Powerco
First big decision
Basil Kings (Your View, August 10) called for the chairperson of the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust to publicly state what had been done towards progressing a museum.
The trust was established by the Tauranga City Council on September 22, 2010 and its objectives include to raise capital to develop and provide cultural and heritage facilities.
Eight trustees have been appointed, and the council provided the trust with approximately $45,000. The trustees consider that the first major decision to be made is the site for a museum, particularly given the history surrounding the issue.
Given that the trustees are tasked with raising the capital to develop a museum, any decision must have the greatest degree of support and provide the best possible chance of securing funding. To that end the trust has been liaising with various stakeholders including Tauranga Moana Iwi and Priority One.
Once a decision has been made about the site, the next step is for the trustees to let the council know what that decision is, because current resolutions of the council make some provision to lease a site and provide some funding if Cliff Rd is the preferred site.
The trust is looking at confirming its decision to council by the end of August for inclusion in consultation on through the 10 year plan process and will publicly confirm its decision when that is made.
Vanessa Hamm, Chairperson, Tauranga Moana Museum Trust
No action on debt
Re Debt concern from Mike Baker (Your View, August 19).
He writes about the $32.5 million additional debt council "recently" discovered. Baker states that council knew and discussed this debt early (2007) in the term he was a councillor but no action was taken.
He then goes on to criticise the current council for doing nothing about it. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
What did Mike Baker do about the problem of TCC runaway debt during his term on TCC? Very little.
In fact, from memory, only once did he vote against a costly major debt accumulating TCC project (Mount Greens).
For the most part he voted in favour of major projects and expenditure with the tight five, which became six when the mayor's casting vote was included.
I find it unbelievable that Mike Baker now criticises the current councillors for their apparent lack of action over the debt level when, if he had been genuinely concerned, could have forced the issue during his recent three-year term as a councillor.
Roger Bailey, Papamoa Beach
Forced to pay
Most people have heard the saying "put your money where your mouth is".
Frequently used in reference to somebody with grandiose ideas demanding what others should do.
Brian Kelly puts a new spin on the saying in his column, putting "your" money where "his" mouth is.
Brian demands council get on with it and spend a squillion (of your dollars) on something he believes is for your own good.
He is giving his permission to the council to force you to pay even more extortionate amounts of your money in rates.
People make the choice of where they live, and are capable of spending their own money on things they value.
In the past people would get together and work towards doing things for the betterment of their community - it was called community spirit. Now people like Brian simply stand on a soapbox and demand that others be forced to do those things.
There is nothing that council do that private enterprise cannot do better, more efficiently, and without compulsion or responsibility, yet some still demand you be forced to pay for second best.
I also want hot pools at the Mount - only I believe it is immoral to force people to pay for them.
(Abridged)
Graham Clark, Lower Kaimai
Text and Facebook views
* The Masonic Park has already cost ratepayers a small fortune in consultants plans & staff time.
* As in the states politicians and judges have a civil duty 2 stand 4 the death penalty. They will answer for this.
* So the Greerton library gets extended from development fees collected in Bethlehem and Welcome Bay where NO libraries exist. Now that sounds fair!! NO WAY
* Re National Standards its time primary schs just got on with it. It will take time and schs need to be positive. Secondary schs have been battling NCEA for yrs.
* Absolutly agree wif brian kelly & waterfrnt. Hury up council & do sumtng. Ideas hav bn bandied around 4 yrs & stil nuthn hapnin.
* BOP Masonic park upgrade 2 million! Better to put it towards a waterfront museum something tga cud be proud of!
* Horrified 2 read Ministry of Ag allowing imports of pork possibly with pig diseases. Wot nxt. Honey with bee disease. Wipe out 2 groups of growers
* How important was the kickable bonus point penalty the BOP gave away at the end with Auckland?
* Why do we nd 2 inprt chinese onions..means our growrs unemployd + no cntrol ovr product
* love reading vanessas column every week, cant wait to see her final photos.
* I agree local cafes r 2 expnsv. And its not even that nice!
* Re Inside Story - A well balanced view of solo parenting ... People need to realise that not all people are solo parents BY CHOICE.
* On behalf of a former solo parent thanks for giving a more realistic portrayal instead of just the usual bashing that we get in the media.
Re Masonic Park - unbelievable $2 million to landscape the size of a 1/4 acre section ... I think I believe a comment I read, that the "Council should not be able to run a bath".
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