Letters to Editor: Lack of warning plan

Lack of warning plan
I live in a retirement village where generally people look out for one another.
Recently it came up in discussion that several of the villagers were not aware there had been a false tsunami alarm, because they don't have their radios on every day.
It therefore seems common sense to inquire about an alarm system for our village and for Hastings.
The village has had drills in the past. I rang the Hastings Civil Defence to be told: "Hastings does not have one they do not see the need for one, Napier has two alarm systems, they need them as they are on the coast."
I asked what if there was a fire raging on the outskirts of Hastings as there was when I was a child: "Oh people would text one another, or word or mouth."
Then I said, "Some say if a tsunami hit Napier it would indeed effect Hastings also, it would come up the rivers?"
"No it wouldn't, we have been told it wouldn't."
That is contrary to what I have read. When I was a child there was an effective warning system in place in case of air raid from the Japanese, in Hastings town and in schools.
I would like to know how many Hastings citizens think we should have an alarm system to warn of any impending disaster.
Pamela Thomas, Hastings
Thanks to Avis
Last Saturday evening our Air NZ flight Auckland-Gisborne was diverted to Napier because Gisborne Airport was closed by fog.
Can you imagine a full plane of 40-plus people (many of whom had flown in from overseas that day) tired, hungry and somewhat grumpy suddenly 3.5 hours from home!
Air NZ said that they would bus us home - however a large number of people wanted to get home quicker by hiring a rental car.
Well, to our amazement when we started lifting the many rental company courtesy phones - they were anything but courteous! We were connected to a "real person" and not a computer voice yet they all (bar one) said that they either had no cars available or that it was after 5 o'clock!
Would you believe only one company, Avis, fronted up to issue cars.
When I asked Ian from Avis why he had come to the airport when the other companies wouldn't he replied: "I just thought how I would feel if I was in the same situation and nobody would come and issue me a car."
So, on behalf of Gisborne travellers a big Kia Ora/thank you to Ian and Napier Avis Rentals for the service provided so willingly. (Abridged)
David S Scott, Gisborne
Merger not a winner
Recently I have been reading newspaper reports, articles and even advertisements from people who are keen for Hastings to merge with and become part of Napier City, as various cities have done with Auckland.
An article in the Dominion Post newspaper (July 9) stated Napier's debt next year was expected to be $4 million, equal to $69.20 per resident. Hastings' debt is expected to be $93 million, or $1,231.70 per resident.
Should Hastings become part of Napier, the average debt per resident becomes $727.60, an increase of $658.40 for Napier residents and a decrease of $504.10 for Hastings residents.
This does not seem a good idea for Napier ratepayers, whose past and present mayors and councillors have been careful with spending and borrowing.
Why Napier's elected Member of Parliament wants ratepayers he represents to take on this burden is puzzling.
Another concern is the effect the merger may have on tourism.
The City of Napier is well known for the 1931 Earthquake, art deco buildings and attracts visitors from many countries with economic benefits to not only Napier but also the wider area.
Should the amalgamation Mr Yule wants ever go ahead, media reports such as a recent large street fight in Hastings will eventually be referred to as "a suburb of Napier',' which could affect people's perception of Napier and therefore tourist numbers.
Should there ever be a referendum on Hastings amalgamating into Napier, I will definitely vote "no" to ensure a good future for the City of Napier.
Tony Dobson, Napier