The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Here you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS
Rate paying community can't live in isolation
I have to express my real dismay upon reading Peter Huxham's letter (March 31) in regards to sirens at Papamoa. One would wonder why Mr Huxham lives in a community environment at all?
Has he never swam or walked the Papamoa beach, stood on the Tauranga wharves, worked in the city, had family or friends visited anywhere in the Tauranga city "danger" zones, gone fishing along the beach, worked or wined and dined downtown, walked up the Mountain? Perhaps the people of this city should ask the residents of Welcome Bay to pay for their own modern roundabout so that they can get to work in the city with ease and comfort?
Please Mr Huxham, do remember that you are part of a wider community that works together to provide support services for all residents and visitors, right across the board, rates from the whole community provide services in your area, specific to your needs, and so it is for each and every section of our community.
You sir, cannot live in isolation and each and every citizen in our city contributes to each other's welfare, even the animal kingdom looks after its extended family, and I am sure once you actually ponder the matter you raise further, you may find it in your heart to take a different view.
Pat Brunton, Mount Maunganui
Papamoa republic
Re Ratepayers shouldn't fund costly warnings (Your View, March 31).
Peter Huxham, Welcome Bay, suggests that residents of Mount Maunganui and Papamoa should not rely on Tauranga City Council ratepayers to fund a tsunami warning system but should "develop and find an alternative funding option" for themselves.
Fair enough.
Therefore he would also be happy with the suggestion that only the ratepayers of Welcome Bay and Tauranga city itself, finance any major TCC projects on the CBD side of the harbour eg the Tauranga Art Gallery, the Southern Pipeline plus any future projects.
It may now be the time for Mount Maunganui and Papamoa to break away from Tauranga City and form a separate coastal city (as it was in the past) under a fresh new council.
This would ensure that all Mt Maunganui and Papamoa rates were spent and invested along the coastal strip.
What a brilliant idea. Unfortunately Tauranga City would probably not survive financially for very long.
Come on Peter, we are one city, one community so have a responsibility to look after each other.
Roger Bailey, Papamoa Beach
Dirty deeds
AC/DC's Phil Rudd fights cannabis conviction (News, April 1).
That is wrong. When you commit a crime like that you do it knowingly, accepting the risk that you may be caught. Appears that the New Zealand judicial system is just as flawed as the Australian system. Rules for the rich and famous are different than the rules for the average person.
Joe Humphries, Queensland
Leniency wise
Leniency shown - but was it right? (Our View, April 1).
I agree with the appeal success. Phil Rudd man has had a big warning and the last three months have shown him the consequences of his actions.
We should all hope for treatment like this.
Andrew Duffy, Bethlehem
Harsh critics
It seems Mary Brooks (Your View, April 1) is on a mission to squash Maureen Anderson for expressing her views on the Seabed and Foreshore Bill. Maureen is entitled to write and express her views in exactly the same way Mary Brooks has. Why then should Mary be so aggressive towards Maureen, is it because she is simply preaching the National Party line?
Margaret Hills, Bethlehem
Text Views
* Re. Economy. We can thank god we hav a national govt. In power. We as a nation hav some serious fiscal problems. We dont hav time 2 wory about gay mariages etc
* I strongly agree with glen and neighbours-no crematorium
* Car manufacturers allowed 10% error margin at 100km/hr. Unfair for police to ticket at 5km over limit cos speed can read 50 at true 55. Some error margin
* Indian comunity not hapy bout paul henry reinstatmnt! Heres a thort - move 2 india?
* Anyone who smokes $80 a day of ANYTHING deserves every physical & psychological side-effect they get! Bloody fools.
* Man who used $80 kronic per day a ridiculous example. Like drinking $80 spirits. ABUSE like that will end in addiction with anything enjoyable
* The lack of free parking in tga is pathetic we nd a multistorey with multiple exits open 24hrs come on council do smthng 4 tga an brng city centre bk 2 life
* Y r indian community complaining abt paul henry get of ur high horses an get over it u r just makin indians look like over sensitive an insecure moaners!
* If a person were to consume $80 worth of alcohol a day, surely worse side effects would occur than this fake weed. So using that logic of young mr moore alcohol should be banned too. It was his irresponsible use that led to problems, just as an alcoholic will encounter problems. Let grown ups choose for themselves!
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