The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
An unattractive waterfront plan
I have just seen an artist's impression of an idea for the waterfront in Tauranga. Is that really the best we can do? I would call it unattractive and a bad use of the space.
For example I counted 16 sails being held up by 64 poles. Ludicrous, inflexible space. It would be like standing in a steel pole forest. They could have two or three beautifully shaped sails covering the whole area creating a flexible covered area. I saw no smaller planting in the retail area making it look very harsh.
Why two retail areas? Why not one? It would be cheaper and make it easier for customers to browse and choose between cafes etc rather than having to walk to both ends to choose a cafe.
The colours shown would date very quickly. Why not go natural and understated? A lovely green park with trees and grass and picnicking with a "tasteful" retail area next to it. We have one chance to get it right. Tauranga can do better than that.
Adam Hughes, Tauranga
Older workers
Re: Concerns over ageing population.
Just as this current Government is removing entitlement to student loans for over-55s comes this observation from Ms Pankhurst, "You have to have options around to attract 65-pluses to keep working.
There will be work service shortages. They may need to actively train mature workers, provide more flexible work hours." Yeah, right!
Brady Waddington, Tauranga
Freedom campers
I was pleased to note that the Government is to introduce legislation to control the overnight parking of campervans, with stiff fines for the fouling of parking areas with toilet waste and rubbish.
This legislation is, in my opinion, long overdue, as some freedom campers have little regard for the environment.
During the Easter Holidays, I was unfortunate enough to park next to a large late model campervan next to the reserve in Cliff Road, Tauranga.
The campervan was surrounded by discarded food, empty bottles and other rubbish just thrown onto the road. I was appalled.
Sorry, freedom campers, if you treat our local environment like this, you deserve to be regulated and fined.
Freedom camping does not include the freedom to leave rubbish where you like!
Peter Nixon, Brookfield
Tax on alcohol
The Budget completely ignored raising tax on alcohol.
Instead, the Government taxed employers more in hard times by removing tax credits from their KiwiSaver contributions, which were also raised in themselves.
Care New Zealand has reported that 230,000 employees are at risk from alcohol related harm, which is costing employers in the region of $1.17 billion in lost productivity per year ( Easton 2002).
John Key says this is a "responsible and sensible budget for the times".
I guess this means an employer has to rely on individual responsibility for drinking on one hand, but has to be collectively responsible for superannuation on the other.
I don't know much about business, but if I were budgeting, I would cut out waste first. The thing that really concerns me is that the Government persists in refusing to do just that.
Tony Farrell, Tauranga
Waste of money
In any home, particularly in a recession, spending is contained.
How dare the council continue to waste ratepayers' money glorifying an almost bankrupt region.
There is nothing wrong with the waterfront as it is.
Obviously the council people have not noticed the amount of businesses closing down and empty shops.
Rents are too high already and who has money to spend anyway?
Time to get real mayor and councillors.
Stop empire building.
Janice Jones, Cherrywood
The cane works
So Rosemary McLeod wants to know when and how we became a nation of school bullies.
At a guess I would say about the time that schools were not allowed to use corporal punishment.
Bullies are basically cowards, they enjoy inflicting pain, physical or emotional, but can't handle receiving it.
Years ago anti-social behaviour was cured by six strokes of the cane across the palms of the hands, and it worked.
To say that corporal punishment encourages violence is rubbish. Schools are more violent now than ever before.
It sends a message that certain types of behaviour will not be tolerated.
Now we have more bullying, teachers being threatened and traumatised, and to stand down these bullies is ridiculous.
They get time off for bad behaviour.
How cockeyed is that?
If parents don't like the idea of their little darlings being caned then they should take responsibility for instilling a code of behaviour in their children instead of leaving it all to the schools.
A Wakefield, Tauranga
Cheap and nasty
Thank you for showing this "vision" in your paper and allowing people such as myself to comment on it.
I have one word - appalling! To my mind it looks cheap and nasty and not at all what Tauranga needs to bring us further into the 21st century.
I realise I sound like a crusty old fart but really I'm not!
I just think this plan - and I wholeheartedly agree with making the most of our waterfront - needs much more thought.
Catherine Campbell-Smith, Tauranga
Text views
* The problem with 11th Ave Lane change is that the arrows need to be painted over in a different shape. In most lights they look like they are still there. And thanks to the guy in that left lane who honked and chased me to Fraser St. You prompted me to call the council about the problem. Hopefully next time you will be in the right lane.
* Insurance companies wanting to raise premiums post chch. What have they been doing with our money collected over a lifetime for events such as these? Sounds like mismanagement to me.
* Luvd Hubbard's view re Hone n his mum. Mon, 16 paper. So so true! Perfect!
* If the police park a speed camra vehicle by chapel st water treatmnt plant they wil cach alot of speedng drivers.
* Chapel st b4 ngatai rd is 1 of the worst 4 speedng. I travel tht rd evry wkday morn with cars speedn past me.
* Usa idol a joke! Agree with gals but country bumkin guy (good singer not pop idol) com on usa! hope not anotha adam lambrt senario?
* One can only sympathise with pensioner Mrs Williams but also important to see a budget just to see where the income is going.
* Our mum was a smoker all her life and died aged 84 - old age, no big C.
* No gst on food in eng. Dont bel those hu tel u cant b done. Lot of pockts being lined with food prices. Shame on natioal 4 letg it come 2 this.
* Poor Cr Bill Grainger who voted hims a pay rise and then complains about a loss in travel perks time to go back to being a land agent i think Mr Grainger.
* I totally agree with Cr Baldock. I wrote 2 council last year suggesting exactly that no private business survive without cuts taxpayer should NOT b funding exces.
* If the council realy wants to save money start sorting out their sub contractors city care. ie their long tea breaks.
* Tga council cd fund hockey by charging evry man woman and child spectator fees2 watch all scool netbal, hockey, rugby, soccer. baywave do 4 scool water polo ... shame!
* So a person who has been on council 4 over 24 years states that the high rate rises of the past 3 years r behind us. Never believed him in the past so why now?
* I didnt c anything in the budget showing cuts 2 the beehive drones life style
* Re the Waterfront redevelopenent once again Mayor Crosby is having a buck each way by supporting it but not considering the financial cost to ratepayers!!
* Road changes. Great now we welcome bay folk have more traffic to put up with and just look at welcome bay rd's state of disrepair at present, what a shambles. Alan.
When writing to us, please note the following:
- Letters should not exceed 200 words
- If possible, please email or use the 'Have your Say' option on the website
- No noms-de-plume
- Please include your address and phone number (for our records only)
- Letters may be abridged, edited or refused at the editor's discretion
- The editor's decision to publish is final. Rejected letters are usually not acknowledged
- Local letters are given preference
Email:
Text: 021 439 968
