Letters: Begging bylaw long overdue in Tauranga

Tauranga's begging bylaw is long overdue, says a reader. Photo /Getty Images

In reply to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson (Opinion, April 7),
let's get something straight - Tauranga's so-called "begging ban" is not a ban on begging at all; it's only a ban on begging in certain locations.

They are free to go elsewhere. As for it being a matter of survival - rubbish. There are plenty of Government agencies and community organisations that offer services to help and assist in some form or other - including homeless shelters.

Last summer I worked at a service station and there was a young man who regularly begged outside the front door claiming he was homeless. He wasn't. He lived in a flat around the corner and was on the unemployment benefit.

At that same location - at night - beggars used to harass the patrons on the forecourt.

The police were called but the beggars always returned. A beggar who used to set up at the Ohauiti shops was dropped off by car at 7am every weekday morning and picked up at 6pm at night - later on Thursdays and Fridays, as they were fish and chip nights and there were more people around.

He was not homeless. Saturdays were similarly busy but, mysteriously, he always seemed to have the weekend off.

Those of us who had to run the gauntlet of the aggressive beggars in Greerton welcome this long-overdue by-law. (Abridged)

Tony Wahren

Ohauiti

Tunnel needed

Laurie Sanders (Letters, April 5) has hit the nail on the head. The country's biggest port is connected to the first and fourth biggest cities in the country by a steep two-lane road over the Kaimais with the occasional passing lanes. As Laurie says this is a no brainer.

A four-lane motorway-standard road with a four-lane tunnel through the Kaimais connecting Route K with the Cambridge by-pass and the Waikato Expressway is the only way to proceed.

The construction of this highway would be good news for those worrying about climate change. Trucks, tankers and cars would use much less diesel and petrol on the road with a gentle gradient.

Given such a good road, most heavy vehicles would avoid using SH2 from Auckland to the port, easing traffic in Katikati and Bethlehem, as well as the area of scenic beauty in the Karanghake gorge.

When will the Government display some vision and give the go-ahead for the tunnel?

Ouida Rice

Bethlehem

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