Letters: Consider the elderly

PHOTO/FILE

Rod Petterson (Letters October 18) writes about potential problems for the elderly with wheelie bins.

We are warned that we have a rapidly ageing population which will reach greater proportions soon. Manufacturers and others will have to consider this because it won't only be wheelie bins that will cause problems. What about very small print on packaging? What about the packaging itself, often unnecessary, but needs strong young fingers to remove. What about poor lighting in devices, or black print on black casing? What about lengthy walks to bus stops? These are merely a few examples, but they do need consideration.

A N CHRISTIE
Rotorua

On Saturday I was able to witness the community spirit of Ngongotaha. Some 37 people turned up in response to local resident Martin's plea to help with the planting of 600 natives at the Waiteti Wetlands Project. Under the guidance of BOP Regional and our own council the work was done in a flash, and the people gathered there then had a chance to meet and chat.

Well done, and thanks, Martin. Well done Ngongotaha.

JOHN PAKES
Ngongotaha

Please would you help us track down one-time members of Tauranga Writers? This is New Zealand's longest-running group for creative writers of all kinds, and we'll be 50 next year.

We're planning a year of celebrations, running mainly from February to November. We're also collecting memories and anecdotes from the past to go up on Digital New Zealand/A-Tihi O Aotearoa.

So I'm inviting former members wherever they live to please get in touch with us, so we can invite them to contribute to our year-long blog, feature them on our Facebook page, and tell them what's happening in 2017.

Especially we're hoping to premiere a documentary on our birthday - 21st June 2017. 'The Write Stuff' is presently being directed by Anton Steel of BoP Film collective, whose film 'The Z Nail Gang' was an outstanding example of what can be achieved through a community project.

Contact us by email to taurangawritersnz@gmail.com or phone (07) 576 9212.

JENNY ARGANTE
President, Tauranga Writers