A selection of letters and texts to the editor. Have your say by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. Please also see letters rules at the bottom of this page.
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Regarding the article of May 21, I am disappointed to hear I missed the Rotorua People's Union for beneficiaries as I would have liked to have gone. I would have liked to have gone along with my own placard to say that I work and it's workers money you get.
So you think Don-Key has s#@! on your mana - you earn your mana, the Government doesn't give it to you.
I do agree that the elderly, who have paid taxes all their working lives should be looked after. They have being putting money in the pot for years.
HADDY HATFULL
Rotorua
As a family member of a student attending Te Whare Hau Ora O Ngongotaha, I wish to express my dismay at the imminent closure of its mental health programmes.
Te Whare Hau Ora O Ngongotaha provides training and recreational programmes for both Tangata Whai Ora (people recovering from mental illness), and the elderly.
A fire in the building in 2008 forced the organisation to provide its programmes on marae and other venues over a period of two years, until the opening of the impressive, newly refurbished building was celebrated in 2010.
The standard of the programmes is high, and my family member has benefited greatly, graduating last year with a qualification which has enabled her to find employment. Huge support for Te Whare Hau Ora exists, not only in Ngongotaha, but in the wider community.
Lakes DHB has a duty to continue to support the mentally ill and marginalised of our community. Funding is ringfenced for mental health.
Why has this occurred?
JACKIE EVANS
Rotorua
I'm a proud dad I had the pleasure of attending opening night (May 20) of the latest John Paul College production, the musical All Shook Up. Featuring music from Elvis and a very funny script it was a huge Broadway hit for a number of years and after seeing the local production I can proudly say these students would be a huge hit on Broadway too.
These students, aged 13 to 17, should take all the credit that will come their way. The cast of about 42 and crew of many had the audience eating out of their hands. International director Robert Young has done it again, guiding the students both on stage and behind. Musical director Richard Anaru, no wonder he's in demand.
He had that band sounding big and bold - just fantastic.
The students should be very proud of how they handled nine months of hard work.
My son Max was on stage and you could not wipe the happy grin I had off my face. I am a very proud dad and a very proud member of the JPC community and I simply cannot be prouder to say that I live in a city full of top class entertaining, talented teenagers, who would put many adults to shame in the way they handle themselves on stage and off.
John Paul College's production All Shook Up is only on for a week and it deserves to get a standing ovation every time.
It simply deserves a sell out season.
(Abridged)
MIKE BAIRD
Rotorua
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Text views
- Re how govt is doin - in 1999 when Labour took office they inherited a trade deficit of $271.3 billion. Come 2008 National took over a $5.36 billion budget surplus. 2011 we have a $10.2 billion operating deficit. Tsk, tsk, all this in 3 years.
- I recntly joind up at the gym whr the man hu signd me up ws vry frindly that was until i bcame a membr, Thn he wsnt so frindly. Ppl r jst aftr ur mony aye.
- Tourism NZ need to be cautious when marketing NZ to the world. Although it is positive, marketing us as a'safe country' can encourage tourists to think there valuables etc will be safe left in their car therefore encouraging break ins. We are safe by comparison but there is crime.
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