We all want Hawke's Bay to do better
I continue to be intrigued by the series of full-page advertisements a small group of wealthy individuals is funding in the local press.
This question is put: We want a better performing Hawke's Bay - do you?
This is then followed by photos and the names of a number of people - some of whom are well known and respected.
What are these people trying to tell us?
That they are somehow different than the rest of us - that somehow they have aspirations that us mere peasants don't have? How insulting.
I don't know a single citizen of Hawke's Bay who doesn't want the province to perform better.
And some of us are grafting away, day after day, to ensure that happens.
Bill Dalton, Napier
Dwindling support
On Monday, September 5, there was a devastating crash in the Bay of Plenty when a logging truck ran into the back of a school bus.
The children didn't have safety belts on but seatbelts are not compulsory. Transport Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Anne Tolley said they would wait for a police investigation to make seatbelts compulsory.
Mr John Key said it was a legal responsibility for seatbelts in school buses, which is rubbish.
Around the district National have put up huge billboards with a massive picture of John Key. He hasn't yet got his picture on postage stamps but it can't be far away. Gaddafi has his picture plastered all over Libya.
As a sign of dwindling support and in spite of very wide publicity there was under 200 people at the National meeting recently held in Napier and JK had to get in by the back door to avoid 50 protesters.
I'm sorry to tell the 55,000 readers of this newspaper that we have a popular but nutty prime minister.
Mickey Mouse is popular, too, but wouldn't make a good prime minister.
Pete Carver, Havelock North
0/10 for council
I have just been into Napier to pick up my mail this morning and can't get over the lack of effort the Napier City Council has put into the Rugby World Cup.
If it wasn't for the businesses in town doing their own thing you wouldn't know that Napier is hosting two games.
Come on NCC, put your hands in your pocket and spend some of the rate money you keep increasing each year and show everyone that Napier is more than just Art Deco.
Very underwhelming effort. 0/10 is your score.
But 10/10 for all the businesses who, despite the lack of support from the council, have done something.
Lexey Lewis, Napier
Eli Carroll saw the water filling with blood and knew he was in trouble.