Letters: Academic freedom paramount

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I would like to voice my support for Bryan Gould's column on academic freedom (Rotorua Daily Post, January 10).

He raises very valid concerns that universities are in danger of becoming a spoke in the wheel of bolstering the economy. I agree that the advancement of knowledge is often created when no end goal is in sight, and it is primarily this type of thinking which universities will not promote if funding is based on predetermined economic goals.

New Zealand must make a choice. Do we still value free and independent thinking enough to sway our universities into making this the top priority?

KATIE-JAYNE BOARDMAN
Ngongotaha

Really enjoy reading the Rotorua Daily Post, very interesting.

Also, the weather in the north of our planet is very cold and stormy at the moment: they are having so much snow, ice and rain in Europe and the USA that it's odd nobody here reports on it. Do we just report on heat-waves and ice-melts now?

GRAHAM PHILIP
Rotorua

As a frequent visitor to Rotorua, I am constantly amazed by the strange traffic flow arrangements in the city. On December 30 it took me 45 minutes to get from the airport to Fenton St with 25 of those minutes spent queuing at the Tarawera Rd roundabout. Traffic was backed up almost to the airport.

Rotorua Central is another example of appalling traffic congestion and as a pedestrian I certainly find it nerve-wracking using the pedestrian crossings which are located in strange places.

Rotorua is a beautiful city but could do with improved traffic flow.

RACHEL ROBERTS
Wellington