Auckland City mayor Phil Goff. Photo / NZME
Opinion
LETTERS
Vision, courage needed in our leaders
Regarding the $31 billion transport budget for the next 10 years, Mayor Goff says: "Public transport, walking and cycling will increase from 23-29 per cent ... good news for addressing congestion and carbon emissions". Not really. Although emissions will decrease, allegedly by 13
per cent per person, overall emissions will increase by 6 per cent. That's why we need transformative policies now, not timid tinkering. If Penlink is to be built it must be offset by at least a plan for rail to Silverdale. Scale back the Mill Road development and put the money into a third main from Pukekohe to Auckland and a fourth one from Papakura to Westfield and start running express train services and allow the new Hamilton service into the city centre. In New Zealand, 400 people die each year of respiratory distress ... and in Auckland, this is about 40 per cent vehicle pollution. We need vision, courage and ambition in our leaders.
Niall Robertson, Balmoral
Questions unanswered
I was disappointed in the reporting of the scam done on the elderly woman in the Herald on Sunday (February 28). The real estate agent was mentioned very briefly. Were they a registered agent? Why did they recommend the scammers to the woman? Did they get any money from the scammers for their referral? Had they referred any other people to the scammers? Are they being investigated by the police? Lots of questions unanswered.
June Krebs, Sunnyhills
National Leadership
