And again, as an MP, he wants answers because it's not good enough for people in Tauranga to bathe in a "toxic mess".
Fighting talk here.
Just where has this man been since the Rena sank?
Let me assure him the residents of Tauranga aren't exactly overjoyed either.
Does he know there are regular beach clean-ups to get rid of as much oil as possible?
Rather than messing about in Wellington, perhaps his time would be better spent helping with them.
K V LAY, Mount Maunganui
Common sense
Where has Brendan Horan been for the past few months? There are warning signs at every access point to the beaches. Given the fact that he is a list MP, I can only see his comments as grandstanding and scaremongering, and certainly not good for already struggling Bay businesses. As a permanent resident of Mount Maunganui and a frequent user of the beach, I don't see any problems if you use common sense.
SHAINE McMURTRIE, Mount Maunganui
Birthing centre
Re Hope grows for new birthing unit (News, Jan 24). I would like to say how pleased I am that there is progress being made in creating a birth centre in Tauranga.
I gave birth to my first child in 2010 in Hamilton at River Ridge East Birth Centre and I had such a positive experience. My private post-natal room consisted of a double bed for my husband to stay, an en suite, kitchenette and midwives at a touch of a button.
Now that I am living back in Tauranga again I don't know how I will cope with my next child; sharing a room with other crying newborns, communal bathrooms, and having to go through the first nights without my husband.
I have heard many good things about the new maternity ward at Tauranga Hospital and I do believe they do a wonderful job, so it is not about them. Instead, allow them to focus on the babies and mothers who have been through difficult births and have the births that are more "textbook", you could say, occurring at a birth centre. Just my two cents' worth, or does it have to be 10 cents?
KATHERINE ANDREWS, Judea
The gift of life
I thank God for such "half-baked" theories that Garth George propounds, and ask David Griffiths if he would have liked his mother to use this method of birth control on his conception. The gift of life is just that, and is taken much too lightly by those who do not want to be concerned with the consequences of their enjoyment of it.
It comes down to responsibility and, if women choose to take their freedom in a sexual role, then they alone have the choice to accept the results.
But I know any woman who has had an abortion is not unmarked by the experience. She is going against her basic instincts of motherhood, and it is a shame that her whole life will be lived out with that sense of guilt.
David, I pray that you will one day see that divine hand, as you put it, and know the wisdom that comes from above, not within.
B GUERNIER, Hairini
Recognise service
It is noted that we periodically see letters of appreciation of various medical institutions for services rendered during hospitalisation, which led me to think of those who serve us before this takes place.
One point to notice is that a lot of these letters appear to come from people with somewhat foreign names, which means perhaps they are probably immigrants to our country and have some extra knowledge of medical experience in other countries.
My wife and I have been enrolled patients with Dr Tingey at the Girven Road Medical Services for some 17 years since we retired to the Mount at the age of 70 years.
During that time, we have required quite a lot of medical care and do not wish to allow this care to go unheralded before it is too late to express our gratitude.
These practitioners carry out their work without complaint.
They are usually backed up by capable, dedicated qualified nurses and other staff.
It may be said that they are we pay for their services but so we do for our hospital services.
We have very good medical service in New Zealand, so let's recognise their value to us.
(Abridged)
ED BLAKEMORE, Mount Maunganui
