Going to the dogs: Letters, 24 February

The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Here you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.

Hairy Maclary a delight for our children - and adults

If we want to grow free-range kids then feeding them backyard Hairy Mclary heroes is a brilliant start.

When we were kids growing up in Tauranga Moana, our hikoi down to Memorial Park to play with Humpty Dumpty was a high-light.

Sometimes as a special treat we would drive down there on a Friday night in our trusty, rusty Mark 1, hands clasped around an Adams Bruce icecream and watch the pretty fountain change colours. It was magic.

How cool that today's tamariki will be able to do the same down on the Strand when the Hairy hounds come to town.

The council is to be commended on such an innovative toanga for our tamariki - big and small to enjoy.

It will be an instant attraction just as Humpty Dumpty was for us many moons ago.

If we want to grow free-range kids then feeding them backyard Hairy Maclary heroes is a brilliant start.

T Kapai, Te Puna

Going to the dogs

So it's becoming official ... Tauranga is going to the dogs.

Congratulations Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell and team at the council who supported Creative Tauranga, for your ability to cut through the mire of council red tape.

The completed set of statues will certainly be an attraction just like Mountie the surfer, on the deck of the Mainstreet Office Downtown the Mount. He has become one of the most photographed images at the Mount.

The Mount could have had another six statues featuring attractions (promoted by Mount Rotary to recognise 100 years of Rotary) if the hurdles put by council, such as "they would be a distraction to traffic", "not permitted on reserve land" and, the killer blow, "nothing in the District Plan that allows statues", could have been jumped. Only through the persistence of Mount Mainstreet did "Mountie" eventually become a reality.

The seven statues were to be created by Donald Paterson, once referred to by Creative Tauranga as a "rent-a-sculptor", even though his creation of Barry in Katikati, and the child statues in Waihi are icons in their own right.

Oh ... by the way, the total cost of the Rotary project was $250,000 with no council funding. The cost of Mountie to Mainstreet the Mount was $35,000.

How inflation has impacted. $800,000 for Hairy Maclary and his mates? Yeah right! Hope a plentiful supply of pooper scoopers are included in the cost.

Les Cresswell, Mount Maunganui

Business decline

In spite or any suggestion to the contrary, it is startlingly obvious that retail business in central Tauranga is in steadily accelerating decline with increasing numbers of empty premises and, along with that, decreasing numbers of people in the city.

Yes, the general economic situation is a significant factor but an equal contributor is unrelenting, inept, visionless city planning that has been the hallmark of councils over the years.

It won't be long until the only sign of life in the central city (and comatose at that) will be those who sit around the council chambers.Chris TaylorPapamoaGreens try-onThe public should be wary about emotive PC claptrap and here are the facts - Mojo Mathers is 45, an ex-Londoner, a list MP for Christchurch East.

Not the only profoundly deaf or seriously hearing impaired person in New Zealand can lip-read, presumably has modern hearing aids with no vision impairment. Parliamentary Service set up first-class equipment and systems (bells and whistles) to enable her to function.

As a list MP, she receives $141,800 annually, a $16,100 allowance, travel and accommodation entitlements plus weekly allocation of 80 hours or 4160 hours pa for two full-time support staff.

Parliament sits fewer than 100 days per year.

Mojo demands as of right an extra 1000 support hours per annum or 20 hours per week to assist her in interpreting the electronic note-taking.

Her eyesight is okay, Hansard also available, the rest of the Green Machine could each pitch in with 1 hours of their allocations if they believe their own rhetoric and they are cooking with gas. Mojo was selected by the Greens knowing the issues.

Be Samaritans and help her out. Take this brief synopsis on board recognising what looks like the Greens try-on for what it is.

S Paterson, Arataki

Finder fined

How dare the court fine the finder of the puppy? (Bay of Plenty Times, February 16) He tried to help it by applying ointment.

At least he tried to do something. The people who cut the puppy's ears off should be found and punished according to the Animal Care & Protection Act.

Let the fellow off - your stupid punishment will definitely discourage others from helping animals in distress.

Betty Tanava Victoria, Australia