Letters to the editor: Communities need facilities and amenities to grow

Pāpāmoa Beach. Photo / File

It was saddening to read the opinion piece by Luke Kirkness, (Tuesday June 1), in which he highlighted the lack of amenities in fast-growing Pāpāmoa.

However, I would suggest that this lack is just not a problem for rapidly expanding Pāpāmoa. Where other large-scale subdivisions have also recently been built, such as Tauriko, there also appears to be a lack of services and amenities for people living in these newly established areas.

For local communities to be healthy and successful they need more than just houses. They need local community facilities such as high schools. Welcome Bay, for example, is still waiting for a high school. Importantly, they also need 24-hour medical facilities, community centres, and libraries.

A community also needs amenities such as playing areas, swimming pools, libraries and even pedestrian crossings near schools.

From a public health perspective, a community as a collective is more than the provision of houses.

For a community to develop and grow it needs and requires the facilities and amenities to support it.

Dr Meg Butler
Mount Maunganui

English is the de facto language

I believe Ian Young (Letters, June 2) massively understated the facts when he says that
"Not everyone speaks fluent Maori".

The vast majority of the population speak little or no Te Reo. Like it or not, English is the de facto language of this country even if it is not an official language.

Whilst I in no way condone the outburst at the Tauranga Ratepayers Alliance meeting, I fear it was, in part, because Te Reo is being thrust upon us at every opportunity by the media, often with no appropriate translation.

Steve Porter
Welcome Bay

Where are the priorities?

Just over $300 million was recently spent on cycle lanes in Christchurch at a cost of $4m a kilometre.

Soon they will be spending more than $45m here doing the same on Cameron Rd to Greerton. There is no use putting in a submission because it is going ahead regardless.

Some people are complaining an $8m cycleway may not go ahead on Totara St - one of the country's busiest industrial roads.

As the photograph shows, there isn't one cyclist in sight on Totara St.

Meanwhile an Ashburton bridge had to be closed. It is a vital link in the south.

People here are still waiting impatiently for a much-needed Katikati bypass and an urgent SH2 upgrade. What I would like to know is where are the priorities? Where are all these cyclists to justify this huge expense?

They don't contribute anything towards roading expenses either but motorists certainly do.

L Askin
Tauranga

China

It is with relief in your paper last Wednesday that I see our grown-up cousin, Australia, has helped get our country back on track taking Communist China to task over the human rights issues of the Uyghur people amongst other concerning issues.

Bring on the elections.

Doug Morris
Tauranga

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