The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Here you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
Letter of the Week
Politicians hypocritical over marijuana laws
The responses from John Key and Simon Bridges to Don Brash's comments on decriminalising cannabis have certainly
been emotive.
John Key: "There's no place for drugs in our society. We've got to stand up and say we don't want drugs."
I would note that the Prime Minister likes wine and has personally blocked any moves to restrict access to it, or put the price up.
Mr Bridges has also revealed himself a prohibitionist - at least as far as cannabis goes.
The problem here for Mr Bridges is that cannabis is a low to moderate risk substance yet at the same time, he is very soft on that far more dangerous drug, alcohol.
Even more confusing, Mr Bridges turns and labels addiction specialist Professor Doug Sellman, as being "almost a prohibitionist" for suggesting we follow a number of rather mild WHO policies which would reduce alcohol harm.
Outstanding inconsistency from both politicians.
Dr Tony Farrell, Mount Maunganui
Hot pools debacle a huge setback for city
Re: Hot pools debacle.
The democratic process is to be commended but it is sometimes a little difficult to accept that fewer than 20 people, associated with the so-called Mount Protection Society, can win a hollow victory and meanwhile scuttle the proposed Mount Hot Pools upgrade.
The proposed upgrade was supported by a professionally prepared business case and based on just a 35 per cent patronage of the wellness centre, would have covered the cost of the entire upgrade and also potentially provided a significant financial contribution towards the running costs of all the other pools in the aquatic network.
Besides being supported by a business case it also carried the support of engineers, the majority of councillors, at the time, and very importantly iwi along, of course, with the tourism industry which logically saw the benefits.
Maybe Cr Catherine Stewart, who decided to join the Society which then ultimately excluded her from any future council discussions on this issue, would like to explain to us, as ratepayers, who now pays the $1 million so far spent, and even more importantly how she now proposes to fund the rest of the aquatic network now that the anticipated profits from the Mount Hot Pools upgrade will no longer be received?
Mike Baker, Bethlehem
Parents' decision
Children in New Zealand are not the Government's - they belong to the parents. It should not be the Government's decision on what they may or may not be taught - that decision belongs to their parents. It is illegal not to send your children to school. So when the Government forcibly takes money (tax) from parents, they prevent parents from affording to send their children to a school that teaches the things they value.
This does not only relate to sex education, but other things too, like religion, evolution, creationism, capitalism or socialism.
By forcing parents to pay for an education that a socialist government wants, governments ensure they brainwash the young population into producing more socialist clones.
Because the Government (or an editorial) says "some parents are not capable of giving their children sex education, we must be realistic," and accept that all children must be given nanny's interpretation of it, which I have been told by a local parent includes talks on oral and anal sex.
Now, I don't believe in the initiation of force, but if this is forced on my teenage daughter I would feel inclined to respond to the Government's acceptance of the use of force. I wonder how "realistic" they would consider a punch on the nose.
Graham Clark, Lower Kaimai
Destroying CBD
We don't need a Christchurch-type earthquake to destroy the Tauranga CBD, we have Mainstreet and Tauranga City Council that will take care of it. Sir Bob Jones, New Zealand's most successful property investor, is reported as having said that Christchurch's CBD cannot be rebuilt and has given many good reasons why.
Many of those reasons he has given exist in Tauranga. One of the most important points Sir Bob makes is that the cost of redevelopment is going to mean rents quadrupling, which will ensure no tenants. Property developers and investors are turned away from Tauranga by the extraordinary fees charged by the council. A walk around the CBD makes one wonder what Mainstreet is doing to justify its existence.
He makes the point of the effect of the "construction of large suburban shopping centres killing off the CBD as a retail location". The Tauranga City Council has also been sucked in by retail consultants advising it how we need these. The strong demand for these is obvious when one considers the empty space in our decentralised shopping centres.
Tauranga needs a change in philosophy to one that looks progressively at encouraging business to the city and rejuvenating the CBD. If this does not happen we can expect a cordon around our city centre and that's without an earthquake.
Glenn Williams, Te Puke
Switch focus
Cannabis smoking may harm some people, but not all. I am an older woman who has neither smoked nor tried cannabis, but my husband and kids did (latter now 50-plus) with no adverse effects so far. Why not concentrate on the harder drugs? Too much publicity is given on the mega dollars to be earned selling these to the poor victims, who, at times, turn to crime to raise enough money to pay for them.Jeri KnightKatikatiCoronation StMore reality TV instead of Coro Street. Spending nine weeks in England recently, so many people were turning off the reality TV and turning to other stations to watch something else.
Coro Street is getting more raunchy to attract the younger viewers so TV1 puts it on at 5.30, probably what was a one-hour show down to half an hour.
I don't watch all the time but anything is better than reality TV.
On TV in NZ, TV1, TV2, TV3 and Prime have so much reality TV, give us a break.
Just as well daylight saving has started, I have started walking in the evenings instead of watching TV.
Wendy Galloway, Omokoroa
Flag tribute
Another Kiwi soldier has died in the Afghanistan war. This time SAS soldier Lance Corporal Leon Smith lost his life serving his country, but when the time comes to lower the flag to half-mast to honour his sacrifice he won't know Tauranga's recognition will only consist of a black, cheap see-through piece of material with the words New Zealand seen backwards. Too bad, Leon. RIP.
Perry Harlen, Mount Maunganui
Police respect
I deprecate the use of the word "cops" in your headlines where "police" would be more appropriate, for example on page one on September 29, and September 27. At a time when our police come in for a lot of media based criticism for their actions this terminology is inflammatory. In the Cameron Rd case the actions of police were in the interests of public safety and not confrontational. As a publication that undoubtedly influences public opinion surely you have a responsibility to use neutral language.
Rather than "Cops brought in after people refuse to evacuate", better would be "Police used after people refuse to evacuate".
Rather than "Cop also forced to pepper spray pitbull", better would be "Police used pepper spray on pitbull". My alternative could well be more accurate as "forced" is hardly a synonym for compelled or obliged.
In both of these examples ink could have been saved.
Keith McLeod, Otumoetai
No whinging
Re Gayle Bruce (Letters, Sep 29) accusing Perry Harlen of whinging. He does not whinge. Whenever he writes to the press his letters are brief and to the point.
He is right about what he says about the black flag, as is R. Paterson.
The finger should be pointed at a gutless council. There are one or two exceptions, of course.
Unfortunately we have a mayor who runs with the hare and with the hounds. He does not set a very good example. No doubt ignoring what is right and putting it all down to patriotism.
I believe it was Samuel Johnson who said: "The last refuge of a scoundrel is patriotism."
David C. Medhurst, Tauranga
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