I'd say it all comes down to how the mother feels about it and her ability to supply milk.
All this nonsense from the pro-[breastfeeding] people will only serve to put more unneeded mental stress on mothers with enough to think about.
(Abridged)
ROD PETTERSON
Rotorua
I must set the record straight regarding a comment by Darrell Holder (The Daily Post, February 4) about "no claim made" [regarding the sinking subdivision in Ngongotaha].
Last year I wrote the Rotorua District Council requesting the procedure for making a claim against council regarding damage to our homes.
The request was forwarded to their insurers who informed me by letter there was no liability against council from the information provided.
Flabbergasted, I contacted insurers asking if they'd seen an engineer's report condemning our three homes and stating demolition and rebuild was our only solution. These reports were in council possession prior to my request.
I also inquired if they had two geotechnical reports about the subdivision and ground conditions. Their response was no.
If that was not making a claim, why has council continually tried to sidestep its responsibilities to ratepayers and not helped with a solution? Why have their insurers instructed them to not communicate with us?
How, with no information, can you make the above "no liability" statement?
We have been made to wait for information that should have been readily available. Council's excuse was the information needed to be got in order for us.
Come to your own conclusions about that one.
Council has continually hidden behind "legally privileged information" when we've requested additional information using the Official Information Act.
Mr Holder and Peter Guerin, I deal in facts and the duty of care council has offered is pathetic.
Mr Guerin, you are the CEO - stand up and be one.
GRANT COLLINS
Ngongotaha
Rotorua District Council chief executive Peter Guerin responds:
We fully sympathise with the situation Mr Collins and other Western Rd landowners find themselves in and with the anxiety they are experiencing.
Like Mr Collins, we want to see a good and timely outcome for him and his affected neighbours. Clearly this will require an independent court to calmly and methodically examine all the facts and to rule on issues such as responsibility and compensation. There are, of course, a number of other parties involved in the Western Rd property development.
It is our understanding that to date no formal claim has been lodged by Mr Collins. Therefore I repeat my earlier advice to him and strongly urge that he seek sound legal advice with a view to identifying parties against whom a claim should be lodged, so that the matter can be brought to a fair, proper and legally binding conclusion.
I can assure you that as a council we are committed to fulfilling any legal obligations that such a process may conclude.
For the record we have offered to open appropriate files to Mr Collins as we have nothing to hide, and we share the same wish for a fair and reasonable settlement of this matter as soon as possible.
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On a Sunday morning in early December, I discovered one of Rotorua's hidden treasures. It was called the Hot Lakes Craft Market and took place at the Rotorua Arts Village in Hinemaru St.
As craft markets go, it was really special as everything there was hand-made and of very good quality. Considerable originality and thought had gone into all the articles for sale and I was also very impressed with the friendly atmosphere and the meticulous organisation.
Whoever is behind this enterprise is to be complimented on supporting such a venture. Kia kaha.
SUE RAWSON
Papamoa
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