Letters to the editor: Kiwifruit workers, Māori wards, Hairini Bridge, M. bovis

It's hard to pack kiwifruit when you have children to care for, a reader says. Photo / File

Flexibility needed

I write in support of Anne Sullivan's letter. There is also a willing and reliable workforce of parents in the Bay, who are restricted by childcare opening hours. Work hours are typically 7am to 7pm. A nursery usually opens 7.30am to 5.30pm. I know of a parent who is reliable, willing to work and totally drug-free. They are just not available at hours outside of childcare. The recruiter was not willing to be flexible on the shift hours to accommodate the reality of the childcare opening hours. No wonder the industry is struggling to find the right people.
Anna D'Arcy
Tauranga

Ears to ground

I suggest nine Western Bay District councillors are not in touch with their wards. They (including the mayor) voted in favour of establishing Māori wards and when 78 per cent of ratepayers voted against it, one has to wonder about who they represent? Well done to the three councillors who voted against. You have your ears to the ground as it should be. You represent us - the people who pay their rates.
Leigh Neilson
Tauriko

Bizarre proposal

Hello? The council has finally realised that something needs to be done to free up traffic at the Hairini Bridge. So what do they propose? A bizarre tidal traffic flow, three-lane, traffic light controlled system; and not only that, the second lane is to be reserved for buses and cars with three or more passengers. Who are these people? Where will the bus lane start? And finish? There is only a certain amount of room on the road and you can't keep adding lanes without widening it. Look, build another bridge. Everyone knows that has to happen, and while you're at it, four-lane Turret Rd and 15th Ave. And while you're at that, raise the level of the Hairini causeway so exceptionally high tides don't cover it.
Dan Russell
Tauranga

Fight for democracy

The nine councillors and mayor of Western Bay District Council who continually ignore the wishes of their ratepayer people should do the decent thing and resign. Not only do they ignore the resounding vote of no to Māori wards, but two days before the vote was announced, they agreed to a remit on removing the right of the people to vote on this issue. This is being put forward to the Government by LGNZ to remove the ratepayers' democratic rights. We the people should demonstrate our rights to keep democracy.
C Humphreys
Katikati

Underestimating

If you wanted to ensure the M. bovis disease was spread rapidly throughout NZ across counties, gypsy day will do it. I think Damien O'Connor is underestimating "the spike". The feed issue is, in my opinion, partly caused by Fonterra limiting the use of palm kernel. It's no good skiting about high milk payouts when you only end up with half the amount of cows producing into the milk pool.
Tony Hewitson
Tauranga