Letters: Driver critical of traffic-jam 'carpark'

The "brilliant" new Taupo Quay carpark.

CONGRATULATIONS to whoever planned the new carpark in Taupo Quay. I am sending these congratulations not only from myself but from colleagues, clients and friends who have beheld and experienced the sheer wonderment of being stuck in their vehicles in Whanganui's newest feature car-jam — a tribute to big city living which most of us moved here to escape!

While sitting through several cycles of exceptionally short light phases, I guess locals and visitors alike will get plenty of time to appreciate the architecture of the street while burning away time that they will never get back. Drivers can relax as the fragrant notes of carbon monoxide tantalise the nostrils and then wave at the northbound drivers whose time under the green light dwarfs other phases.

However, they will gain at least some satisfaction as their immobile vehicle will prevent any right turn into Mud Ducks. And woe to anyone who, in error, parks their car in the angle carparks. Some could end up being there so long they will become artefacts to a bygone time, fodder for the parking wardens, I guess.

And if you are heading to avoid Taupo Quay, I suggest you avoid the new Ridgway St carpark — unless, of course, looking at an empty intersection with no cars using St Hill St excites you.

RUSSELL BELL
Putiki

Housing equation

After reading your article on Saturday (February 16) regarding HNZ's two-year redevelopment in Wanganui, I did the maths and came up with a gain of 13 houses after the demolition of 10.

I have always believed that state houses had good bones. Wouldn't it, therefore, have been more sensible to renovate the 10 existing ones instead of demolishing them? And the end result would be 23 extra homes.

A better way to try to overcome the lack of housing issues.

DOUG PRICE
Castlecliff

EVs frontrunners

Having read Mike Hosking's editorial on electric vehicles and A. Barron's reply to Elaine Hampton's letter on the subject, it is obvious that neither Hosking nor Barron has understood the real issue.

The real issue is not EVs, but climate change. EVs will not end climate change, but they are a step in the right direction, unlike Hosking's drooling over "Ferraris, Bentleys and McLarens".

These vehicles seem to have performance (and noise) as their envy factor — and, to be fair, they do turn most people's heads when they roar past. But to put some hard facts in the picture, they are putting far more CO2 in the atmosphere per person than a cyclist or someone in your average Toyota, let alone a fully electric car getting charged with solar panels.

Barron's complaint that the Government is to give incentives to electric vehicles in NZ is fake news. They probably should, though, because, as Hampton says, pollutants from fossil-fuelled vehicles kill many people. Even the US rebates EVs to the tune of $11,000 for this reason alone.

And, A. Barron, climate change is why we should not be looking for more oil and gas. We already have enough known reserves to stuff up our planet.

By the way, Mike, Tesla cars will out-accelerate your Ferraris and McLarens at less cost upfront and to run.

JOHN MILNES
Whanganui

Trump the emergency

President Trump has declared a "national emergency" because Congress won't give him his nice, new, shiny wall for his disciples to salivate over.

His petulance has set a precedent for the next Democrat president to take similar action regarding real emergencies like gun control or climate change. Perhaps next time he has his "orange orang-utan makeover" he should look in the mirror. That's where he will find his "national emergency".

GRAHAM LEWIS
Whanganui