Letters to the editor: Stair removal a loss for Mauao users

A reader says Mauao users will not benefit from the loss of the stairs. Photo / File

I have read the reason why the stairs were removed from the base of Mauao and it appears it was for safety reasons and damage to the area.

These were installed in 2017 and it is now 2021 and suddenly they are going to cause damage.

I would say by their removal there is more risk of another slip occurring and these stairs were built to last a long time and at significant cost to ratepayers.

The council says 180 people use the stairs daily and that a lot more use the base track, which is a pretty obvious statement as many users are pushing pushchairs.

Is this statement trying to justify its comments?

In my opinion, this is just another crazy, costly decision by our council and a loss for many users.

Sad to see these stairs go.

Jane Baker
Bethlehem

Our throw-away age

A hole in a sock this morning prompted a thought - what has happened to husbandry, the art of repair, remake, rebuild?

Do we still retain any of the skills that our grandparents had?

During the 1930s and 1940s when we could not buy new things, we were taught at a very early age to sew socks, replace buttons and fix most things.

One of our fan heaters packed up yesterday, only a year old.

Fifty years ago, we could have repaired it ourselves or taken it to an electric shop and had it fixed.

Now very few items can be repaired. Irons, kettles, heaters - just throw them away and buy a new one.

Sad really, and wasteful.

Jim Adams
Rotorua

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