Brian Currie helped build the popular driftwood sofa on top of dunes at Mount Maunganui and says he has been going to that spot for years. Pictured with friend Stacey Russell. Photo/file
"I agree with Bryan Johnson (Letters, August 31). I am also an old bloke and the changes I have seen make me wonder. Progress, I am all for it. The tail wagging the dog, no. I have a granddaughter who wants to study to be a nurse.
"When you look up the course details, it's Maori, then English?
"I did not know that English was now our second language. When will New Zealanders wake up?"
Daniel Sycamore
Poike
"Regarding the "driftwood sofa" (News, August 26), talk about bureaucracy gone mad. It's been there giving enjoyment to a lot of people and not taking up a great deal of space.
"It's come from the sea so it's natural in a conservation area.(Abridged)"
Ailsa James
Te Puke
"On May 8 there was an article in the Bay of Plenty Times about berm parking frustrating Avenues residents. This problem was created as a result of the growth of the CBD and expansion of the city along Cameron Rd. City workers chose to park their vehicles for free on grass verges in the residential area and walk into the city.
"In negotiation between our neighbourhood residents and the traffic division of the Tauranga City Council, an acceptable development of angle parking has now been completed and our neighbourhood has once more reverted to a quiet residential area with an orderly quality, as opposed to a city parking lot.
"Well done city council. The Fourth Avenue residents are grateful for your understanding and resolution to our frustrations."
Jennifer Glausiuss
Avenues
"It is understandable that people who have not had contact with Maori culture, but who have grown up in New Zealand should feel that Maori culture is now being pushed on them. But around the world, people embrace the beauty of different cultures. It should be no different in New Zealand. Nobody is being asked to embrace everything Maori, but we are a nation of two and more cultures, and improving the place of Maori culture in mainstream society should be something to celebrate. It certainly has not given Maori control of anything so far, despite the beliefs of some people." (Abridged)
Peter Dey
Welcome Bay
Opponents say the changes will make it harder to successfully bring pay equity claims.