AT's plans for CBD aren't fair for all
Correspondent, Simon Wilson (Weekend Herald, May 29), is absolutely correct in stating that Auckland Transport CEO, Shane Ellison, and other of his senior executives, have been totally obstructive in their dealings with Auckland citizenry concerning alternative traffic solutions for Queen St. Auckland
Transport's proposal to ban all cars and taxis travelling north between Mayoral Drive and Wellesley St, so prohibiting the dropping off of the mobility challenged outside the main doors of the town hall, is not only a denial of the UN Declaration of Human Rights 1945, against NZ law and the Human Rights Act of 1993, and under this act also a denial of formal Auckland City guidelines concerning the rights of the temporary or permanently mobility challenged and disabled, who are regarded officially as 10 per cent of any group of citizens.
Lack of space possibly prevented mention that Auckland Transport is totally out of order with its illegal and thoughtless proposals. Simon Wilson's suggestion that the senior executives involved in these decisions should be found new work, is therefore entirely appropriate, and should be implemented forthwith.
Hylton Le Grice, Remuera.
Private schools
Apparently there has been a surge in enrolments in private schools in Auckland (Weekend Herald, May 29). Some schools have closed their rolls for the first time in decades and others report huge waiting lists. Apparently Covid-19 has fuelled demand as private schools were seen to offer better support during lockdowns, another reason being returning expats who can afford the fees. There is another possible cause not mentioned in the article, that is parents' concern about the declining standards in certain subjects in NZ state schools. Returning expats looking to educate their children will be aware that an international study survey by (TIMMSS) reported NZ students' maths and science knowledge in the first year of high school is the lowest it has ever been compared with all other English-speaking countries. That surely is inexcusable.
James Gregory, Parnell.
Bid to liberate a lane
Once again thousands of Aucklanders broke through the police line and dared to claim traffic lanes on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. They did this in sheer frustration with the NZ Transport Agency, who for 17 years have shown an entrenched inability to provide Aucklanders the option to walk or cycle over the bridge.
In 2017, the Transport Agency was asked by the Government to deliver the consented SkyPath design. This could have been built by now. But instead the Transport Agency have come up with a proposed completely new bridge across the Waitemata just for walking and cycling. The sheer cost (over $500 million) means it is highly unlikely to be built. In fact it's so ridiculous that it's the kind of solution to put forward when you don't want to do anything.
Hence we are campaigning to liberate a lane. Internationally this has been shown to improve traffic flows, provide travel choice and reduce the environmental harm from transport. We will march again and again if necessary.
Bevan Woodward, Auckland.
Vaccination at pace of a snail
Kiwis should be very concerned at the snail's pace of vaccination. Opening our borders without more vaccinations is absolutely crazy. A group of people from Melbourne, supposedly self-isolating went to a very popular restaurant for lunch, and are currently living in suburbia, with their mother.
New Zealand suffers from a lack of logical thought, both in our politicians and our public service, and an impending disaster will not be averted if we continue on our current stupid path. Jacinda and Labour have a huge amount of support that will evaporate very quickly if we get a second wave, like India.
Neville Cameron, Coromandel.