The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Here you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
Letter of the Week: Don't worry about law if you have nothing to hide
There are many who are concerned about the reds under the beds scenario of the proposed search and surveillance law change.
However I am all for it as it will not affect anyone with nothing to hide.
For the ordinary citizen living a normal lawful life, this bill will not even touch them.
However it will protect the rest of us from those who are up to a bit of malarkey.
I personally would like to know more about the Urewera Four, and why in their training camps they were allegedly using AK-47s and Molotov cocktails in order to teach young people how to catch wild animals - a slight case of overkill - it is a bit like using a digger to catch a snail!
There is still also that old rumour which hasn't quite gone away about the terrorist training camps in Libya which some of our rather more radical activists apparently attended in the 1980s.
I can safely say that if I was "searched or surveilled", my phone calls would be heartily disappointing, they would hear a boring account of my children, grandchildren, job, my hobbies of scrapbooking and genealogy.
I doubt an ancient ancestor would be of much interest to anyone except me.
Robin Bishop, Pyes Pa
Moving the goal posts on big screens
I feel sorry for the businesses who took the council at their word when it was decided not to have big screens for the RWC.
Loads of businesses (especially out in the suburbs) have made staffing arrangements and paid for their own expensive business TV coverage hoping to get some of the spin-off from increased patronage by screening the games.
It was also great to find that our councillors, with prudent management, reduced the rather expensive costs of accommodating the RWC teams/players when they came to Tauranga (Why wasn't the IRB/NZRU paying for it anyway).
So why must we blow the saving by now having a big screen Party Central and turning over Tauranga's own bars and businesses who put their money up to meet the need in the first place?
Gee sorry about that guys.
Talk about moving the goalposts.
Graeme Lynam, Tauranga
Sparring words
Five-and-a-half years ago I came to Tauranga and instantly turned fan for the then Mt Maunganui Salt Water Hot Pools, purchasing one block of 30 tickets after another and bringing all our overseas visitors and guests to these unique hot pools.
Now after the million dollars refurbishment one can see that important things were attended to.
Well, here comes my impression and I would like to call it the "Tauranga Progress".
Instead of 2 spas there is now only one.
Instead of 39 degrees water temperature in the spas it's now around 37.5
Instead of fairly warm showers with very poor water pressure, now you have to wait two to three minutes before you can get a warm shower, however, with improved water pressure.
One used to be able to sit in the spas at night and view the stars.
Now with lots more light in all areas this is no longer possible.
It is pleasing to walk into a well-lit area at the entrance, however to fully light up the entire place ... It takes away some of the evening romance especially when sitting in the spas ...
Five years ago a block of 30 tickets cost $100, now it's 80 per cent more expensive.
Somehow I think that the people in charge don't know the term "Customer Friendly".
Thus let me congratulate the people in charge of the Mt Maunganui temperate salt water pools for a multimillion-dollar refurbishment job.
Now they can (or maybe have to) charge more, offer less and are less customer friendly.
As a voter I vote with my feet and will take my business elsewhere.
As a taxpayer it makes me cry to see a Tauranga icon managed so poorly.
Fridolin Kathan, Gate Pa
Act meeting
It was fascinating to read David Rangihika's comments (Letters, September 19), on Dr Brash's ACT policy launch. I was also at that meeting, in fact seated directly behind the note-taker - and alongside a charming Maori lady, with whom I had a most genial conversation.
Mr Rangihika was most certainly not the only Maori present amongst the 100+ people, nor was he the youngest, there being several school students and teenagers.
Yes, in our "not-one-law-for-all" democracy, Maori are vastly over-represented in our worst social statistics. They are also disproportionately over-represented in our Parliament ... and some seemingly do very little for their constituents, whilst riding on the political and Treaty gravy train.
If the likes of the foul-mouthed bigot John Hamilton/Hone Harawira are what our respectable democracy has to work with, then Lord help us.
We are all New Zealanders, all in this together, and all need to strive together, to ensure that we are all equal under the law. So why would Maori be absent?
David Finney, Matua
Family planning
Family Planning ideology is driving the "get on with sex with whoever, whenever and why ever, when you feel it's right for you" campaign.
It's all in their glossy brochures, The Word and Your Choice, funded by our taxes through the Ministry of Health.
As a parent I have spoken and written to college staff including nurses, counsellors, principals and MPs expressing my apprehension for youth being sucked in by the message that there are no rules or boundaries to sex.
We parents are funding a government system that is working against us, splitting our families due to confidentiality.
The media are constantly alerting us to the serious and disturbing outcomes from easy access to alcohol and sex among youth.
My head is bloodied and bruised from banging against defensive and aggressive brick walls.
I'm told it's the domain of our politicians.
How is it that many of our boards of trustees and school staff are parents yet don't see the crippling effects of our unprofessional sex education?
Conservatives will be getting my vote.
(Abridged)
Margaret Muirhead, Otumoetai
Texts
* Perry harlen must be det chief insp of the fun police. How many tcc resources duz he waste with pathetic complaints?
* Good on you TCC. Everyone (including tourists) recognises that flag as a sign of support for the national team & the WRC tournament.
* Proposed museum site Monmouth St 1 way past Police Stn no entry frm Cliff Rd how abt that 4 traffic congestion eh only exits Park & Mission Sts Sort it out
* Perry Harlen is yr sound meter recording the noise made by the wind blowing the flag @ botton of Eliz St annoying U @ the Mt?
* For Perry Harlen @ the Mount Is the heìght of the flagpole @ bottom Eliz St blocking yr view
* Does Mr Harlen have nothing better to concern himself with? The flag is entirely appropriate at this time. Sick of reading of that mans ignorant opinions
* so tcc listened to the rate payers and now we might get a big screen but tcc wont listen to the rate payers cause we dont need a museum.
* big screen, tcc as usual to late to get things done i wounder if tcc will do a stratige study, get a consultant, seek an impact fee?
* This is tauranga. It wont b party central it will b fight central. I will b avoiding downtown like the plague now till after the world cup.
* Perry Harlen get a life! You spend yr whole life writing letters of complaint. Loosen up or move somewhere else. Its only 4 a few weeks, its just a flag !
* Recently we've seen wealthy musician rightfully pardoned and solo mum imprisoned two months for exactly the same thing. Is this your idea of justice?
* Fix access at 15 or 17 ave 2 toll road 3 or 4 times the cars will use it no need 2 raise toll no brainer realy
* Thumbs down: to the little jerks that keep breaking glass on the cycle way thru matapihi, thats why we use the road cycling.
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Hint: They are more likely to degrade waterways than mutate into a crime-fighting team.