Letters: Tauranga's bus problems must be fixed, a reader says.
The problem with the Tauranga bus service and other bus services brings to my mind a sad story from Queensland and one that illustrates how the failure of a bus schedule can lead to tragic results.
In December 2003 a 13-year-old boy, Daniel Morcombe, headed off to catch a scheduled bus from home into town on the Sunshine Coast. Unfortunately, the bus had broken down and when it got going again because it was running late and had to make up time, the driver did not stop to pick up Daniel.
By the time a later bus came along Daniel had disappeared and he was never seen again. He had been abducted and killed by a man who had been parked near the bus stop. That man is now serving a life sentence for murder.
Each year on the anniversary of Daniel's disappearance a "Day for Daniel" is held nation-wide in Australia to promote awareness of the vulnerability of children and the danger posed to them by sexual predators.
Could the same kind of thing happen here? Of course, it could. A bus service with unpredictable schedule failures is not merely inconvenient: tragedies can be the result. For the safety of the people who depend on a reliable bus service, this current problem has to be fixed. Now.
Barry Scott
Papamoa Beach
I always enjoy the whimsical, educational and usually accurate articles by Tommy Wilson. His lighthearted style is a breath of fresh air, thank you both.
It was therefore disappointing to see, in my view, the cynical response made by Richard Prince (Letters, February 21) and to a lesser degree Eddie Orsulich) on the subjects of history and the Treaty of Waitangi.
While seeming to agree that a more accurate teaching of history is desirable, Mr Prince chooses to emphasise some of the darker sides of Māori pre-Treaty, pre-Christian practices, while conveniently ignoring identical practices by his own people during the compilation of their own history.
Savagery comes in many forms. It has been a part of human development since the dawn of history and practised by all at some point. To constantly refer to Māori in such a disparaging way is blatantly selective, destructive and outdated.
All of the references made by Mr Prince are well documented and available to any student of history. It is therefore disingenuous to suggest they are ignored.
Likewise, Eddie Orsulich's suggestion that the Treaty was the only effort made to join our two nations is wrong. The 1852 New Zealand Constitution Act enacted in London gave the right to Māori to occupy and self govern autonomous regions.
The fact that these and other provisions were never carried out was perhaps an indication of the duplicity of those who held newly acquired power. In any event, it did not bode well for future relationships with Māori. A future we are still working through, successfully in most cases.
Robin Bell
Omanawa
I can't say how pleased I am that someone has seen fit to cover the
topic "Why students need to learn early NZ history" (Opinion, February 13).
I compare my experience of history as a subject at an Australian secondary school with my experience at Otumoetai College in the early 80s, and it just does not compare.
The history textbooks we had at Deakin High were on Australian subjects, the rest of the world in so far as it impacted on Australia then, and thoughtful commentary on how it impacted Australians now. Otumoetai College had British textbooks written for Hong Kong, covering the Napoleonic Wars and the aftermath; New Zealand might just as well not have existed.
And for all intents and purposes, until the ANZUS "crisis", it didn't.
Reprint a few articles from the Bay of Plenty Times of the 70s and early 80s and you'll see a New Zealand that doesn't believe it exists anywhere else but on the rugby field.
Wesley Parish
Bellevue
A tax on "CGT" is foremost a tax charged on "inflation". We live in an economy where most "investment assets" is invariably increased from inflation.
Yes, there may be other contributing factors - skills deployed; input provided; timing; even "luck"; etc - but always "inflation" is the underlying factor. Yet worldwide no Capital Gains Tax has ever included a deduction for "inflation".
I suggest this Tax Working Group's involving the imposition of Capital Gains Tax truly divides the populace between capitalists and socialists.
Most Kiwis "battle" in their lifetimes with staged debt servicing of -
a. Student loans;
b. House mortgage;
c. Family's career education; and
d. Provision for old age
From adolescence to grave - in order to get ahead of the "capital barrier" each is born with.
Why then would any politician wishing to survive want to implode their own political career death wish by introducing a high rate of tax on selective assets with inflation ignored, thereby terminally poisoning themselves, and turning most electors to "off"?
Winston Peters now holds the key to the future of this ineptitude - some already say madness. He must stick with his last general election promises if he has any chance of regaining an NZ First +5 per cent party "list" polling vote at the next general elections; significantly not with any compromise with National needed.
Alan Trotter
Tauranga
In view of the recent water restrictions, I would like to ask the council if the cruise ships take on water from Tauranga and if so, in what quantities?
A.M. Gribben
Mount Maunganui
People, don't be sucked in by this Capital Gains Tax, it is aimed at middle New Zealand again and baby boomers in particular. A large proportion of us were crucified by 'Rogernomics' and his looney tune policies that once again academics thought to be clever.
Labour are ready to release another devastating policy on us all and repeat the madness again.
We baby boomers have taken over 30 years to recover from the folly of Rogernomics, some never could.
The ones who have accumulated something to aid their retirement. Labour wants to now steal in the name of Capital Gains Tax.
The wealthy will just move money offshore. The rest of the landlords will just sell off their rentals so not to be caught with tax and that will escalate the homeless situation.
How can Labour say this tax is fair when iwi will pay only 17.5 per cent and the rest of us will pay 33 per cent. Plus I guess it's so fair that Māori charities (with an income of millions) will still pay zero tax as usual.
In my opinion, Labour is showing what naive, incompetent bungling imbeciles they are, they do not have a business brain between them.
We are overburdened with incompetent government depts instigating more time-consuming compliance red tape and charges so producers cannot actually get to work and do their job.
'We are all equal just some are more equal than others.'
(Abridged)
C Humphreys
Katikati
I wonder seriously if the people who bang on and on about putting speed restrictions on SH2 ever drive the road.
Due to ever increasing congestion, it is impossible to speed on that road. During 7am to 7pm, you are lucky to travel at 70km. Don't let Labour off the hook. Four lanes and the Northern Link are what's needed.
Bill Murphy
Tauranga
I hope the Government don't pump millions of taxpayer dollars (some of it is my hard earned dollars) into State Highway 2.
I am quite happy with the quality of this highway. I think people need teaching how to drive properly. Any person can learn to steer, brake, change gear, etc, but it takes a driver to drive properly.
Jim Wall
Welcome Bay
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People aged 60-plus accounted for 55% of all house fire deaths over the past 5 years.