Letters to the editor: 'Irresponsible' central govt letting us down on roads

White crosses placed in protest on State Highway 2 in Tauranga. Photo / NZME

Another crash happened on the Kaimai Range on Sunday, June 27, and last week two people died in a crash on SH2 on the highway's delayed second stage. There was also another crash on SH2.

Crashes and deaths on our state highways just keep happening. Driver error does occur, but with our crappy highways we need better planning financial commitment from central government - after all, it is responsible for state highways.

Instead, we have to play second fiddle to the recently announced joke - the cycleway across the Auckland Harbour bridge, and the rising billions of dollars it is costing to put a rail link around central Auckland and proposed rail to the airport when there is a perfectly versatile bus system.

The rest of New Zealand misses out on basic fundamental infrastructure, and in our case, our state highways lead to the country's best export port.

If only the Government cared, and took a nationwide approach to what it does, instead of just Auckland.

If only we had governments that would take their responsibilities seriously.

In local government we have to plan and work with central government, but to be let down by it with essential roading infrastructure is, in my view, irresponsible.

Margaret Murray-Benge
Bethlehem

Leave our open spaces be

Go to any great city of the world and there is a celebrated greenspace: Central Park in New York, the Royal Parks of London, and even Berlin has more than 30 per cent of its land area devoted to parkland and woodland.

Here in New Zealand there is Hagley Park in Christchurch, Queens Park in Invercargill and Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

The early settlers of Christchurch and New York ensured spaces were left untouched by buildings. They could never have imagined the cities they were founding would reach the size they have so the spaces they set aside were huge for the size of the settlement.

Why then do columnist Dawn Picken (Opinion, June 26), and Heidi Hughes (News, June 19) agitate to build over our green spaces? The racecourse, the golf course and even the Domain all get cited as places to build houses, shops and/or huge grandstands.

Destroying these great, open spaces so that a few people spend a few less minutes in their morning commute would be a tragedy.

We should leave our spaces unspoiled rather than become construction sites. Future generations will thank us for our vision.

Ron Scott
Tauranga

Ten grateful people

We would like to thank all the Rotorua people who helped us on Thursday, after an accident, early afternoon.

Police, ambulance first responders, street support and of course the shops nearby - Hell Pizza, Candy World Rotorua and Art United Rotorua.

Ten grateful people thank you all very much for your help and kindness you were wonderful.

Chris and Alan Cox, RSA walking group
Mount Maunganui

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