The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS
Time for Te Puke to get the basics right
Re Road to Salvation, (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 9): Her item makes one thing crystal clear: the push
for the town's retail development comes from a gaggle of self-serving shopkeepers around Focus Te Puke, panicked by the prospect of loss-of-trade following completion of the Eastern Bypass.
If I read one more gush about the town's brand as "kiwifruit capital of the world"; about "positioning" ourselves; about turning negatives into opportunities; about "retail experiences" ... I'll do what the town's name richly suggests, I'll puke.
Look around. Kiwifruit ceased being novel long ago. It's now just another mass-produced, industrial fruit.
Here's what makes for a flourishing little rural service town:
When you have the above, in a nice climate, and you are as close as we are to larger urban centres, then the range of local retail on offer is not that important.
Te Puke Focus should focus rather on making a town that's good for those who've chosen to live here.
The rest will follow.
(Abridged)
COLIN MARSHALL, Te Puke
Food prices
Re Statistics show food prices are soaring (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 16):
We've just arrived in England. Our first shop (in a Sainsbury and Tesco supermarket) here was a very pleasant surprise: Breakfast (full English organic) $7.15, chilled New Zealand leg of lamb $13.65 per kg, three 1.35kg chickens for $20.50 (yes, three), 1kg of cheddar cheese $10.50, Castello blue cheese $2.05, fresh Cornish milk (2.27 litres) $2.05, Scottish Smoked Salmon 300g $10.25, NZ Braeburn apples $2.85kg, two mangoes (large) $3, Grants Whisky $18.05, bananas $1.33 per kg and on and on.
Who said we're not being royally ripped off? We are, and it needs investigation - and quickly.
To say our prices are based on worldwide markets is a travesty. It just isn't true.
Murray Steward, Tairua
Facts needed
Graham Cameron's letter (Your View, April 13) with regard to sediment and dredging of our port, seems to be all emotion with very few facts.
This is shame, because as someone who has taken an interest in both the original consent hearing, and this appeal, I would like to assure your readers that this process has been carried out with total professionalism and care and attention to detail, by all concerned. And that includes the judges and commissioners.
There will be some loss of pipi resource, but it is minor in relation to the size of the bed it is to be removed from. And the repositioning of rocks in the entrance channel will enhance the present kaimoana habitat, as well as possibly adding more to the Pilot Bay Reef area.
With regard to the Mataitai Reserve it is my understanding that any sand put there will be for enhancement purposes only if that is needed.
But rest assured. Our Port operators are not a bunch of "leaky building fly-by-nighters" who will be gone next year. If things go wrong, and they haven't seriously yet, they will be there to fix it.
And finally, while I have sympathy for the position Tauranga Moana Iwi find themselves in, I have to agree with Tommy Kapai. It is not what is being taken out, but rather what is put in, that is now the major problem for the whole harbour, and not just the little bit down at our end.
R McGUINNESS, Tauranga
School crossing
Re Go-ahead for safer crossing point at Bethlehem School (News, April 19):
It's a simple fix. Install a lights-controlled crossing with cameras. That way if motorists don't stop they will end up with a $150 fine.
Having islands is not going to help with the amount of traffic that travels the road. These also offer no protection from vehicles that drive over them.
Adrian Hutchinson, Pyes Pa
Pool stoush
Re Fight erupts over Mount hot pools (News, April 15):
Shame. This iconic area has been a special part of my memories for over 50 years.
I don't go so often when at the Mount - the pools are much cooler than they used to be, are far too crowded at the best times, and the changing rooms leave a lot to be desired.
In these days of private hot tubs and jacuzzis, the reasons for visiting are probably fewer, but a revamp with a view to hotter pools, better conditions and perhaps more vegetation giving a bush experience might just consolidate this great attraction. It is world famous, after all.
Murray Steward, Tairua
Pet care costs
Re The cost of giving animals a future (Animals & Us, April 14):
I don't think the SPCA is being unreasonable in charging to adopt animals. The animals are "good to go", ie they have been vet checked, vaccinated, chipped and desexed.
If you get a free pet off the internet or a neighbour, you still have to pay for all these things, and unfortunately people don't, which is why so many animals end up at the shelter through people not desexing their animals. Plus if you pay nothing for something, you won't value it as much as if it cost money.
If kitty ends up under a car or you just simply grow tired of it because it's no longer cute and playful, so what? You don't care, it cost nothing so it's worth nothing. Just go and get another "free" toy.
Heather Auld, Tauranga
Taking stock
The furore is over from Damien O'Connor's comments regarding list selection. He's rehabilitated, apologetic, never to state the obvious truth again.
We've allowed our society to be duped by this regime of political correctness. Nazi. A term guaranteed to evoke reactions, yet this applies to the "final solution" we have for the classroom number of children aborted daily on the altar of convenience.
Unseen the mothers who often continue as casualties of remorse, guilt and regret not reconciling lies like - "it's only tissue, not a person". Sex education, psychology, sleeping pills and Prozac don't fix this. Will future generations condemn this one?
Britain's Muslims, legally able to have more than one wife, are exponentially outstripping others' birth rates. It's surmised Britain could fall to Sharia Law in a not-too-distant future. What changes could come here? Whilst horrified at Germany's gas chambers, we allow the destruction of our future.
If there's a hell - who goes there? Hitler, abortionists, bad legislators or us? If there's a heaven, who goes there? Aborted babies? Good people? Or us? Easter has the answer but it's not PC to talk about the God, who holds us all accountable.
James Lauchlan, Bellevue
Controls needed
Our local politician Simon Bridges is quite correct in that it would be wrong to make Kronic widely available without strong controls imposed.
Evidence has been presented to him indicating that increased availability of the class B equivalent, alcohol, leads to lower prices and more consumption.
ALAC showed in 2007 that supermarkets entering the market have reduced the impact of excise tax on alcohol.
Booze taxes are now much less effective in reducing harm from this drug that causes considerably more damage than is caused by Kronic.
I look forward to hearing consistency from the Select Committee as they come to terms with the medical and social evidence that our focus should be on harm, not profit.
An R18 environment such as a separate room for alcohol displays in supermarkets could be the least they can do, if they won't remove alcohol from supermarkets altogether.
No one would advocate that Kronic be sold in a place that our kids visit regularly with bright labels and cleverly designed store layouts. The second reading of the Alcohol Law Reform Bill is now not until July, so write to your politician and let them know which drug really is a chronic danger to our community if left highly commercialised.
Tony Farrell, Mount Maunganui
Legal highs
Re Legal high way to hell (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 16):
I definitely don't want to see it being sold from superettes and dairies, because, generally speaking, the owners don't seem to care about the ethical issues arising from the sale of these types of products.
I know for a fact that legal marijuana is being purchased online by teenagers and being on-sold to other teenagers (especially under 18) for a profit.
The teenagers I have spoken to just don't seem to see a problem regarding any potential side effects. Their ethos is "it's legal so it's got to be okay".
Sue Hetherington, Tauranga
Text views
* New to city, and first visit to bay park and is now a first and last after attending the game last friday. Amateur organisation of the 1970s facilities on offer. New ground required and new management.an embarrasment for the city and bop.l gallagher, tauranga.
* please, no more rugby at baypark. its an embarrasmnt to Tauranga
* Disgusted with baypark chiefs game. Paid $45 for seat, to get to ground at 6.30pm and told seats in our block (AA) sold twice. We send to end of ground. Went home before half time
towatch on TV. Will not go back. stephen
* Baypark. Inexperienced people that know everything. Who allowed this incompetance. Put yr hand up and resign.
* More excuses if I ran my business as Baypark is run I wouldnt expect it to last long. Bring back Bob, ran it on his own and prob made money.
* Baypark. Best venue worst management how many excuses b4 someone is man enough 2 admit a few heads should roll. No accountability. . Why not ???
* To add to the Stadium kaos there r no seats 70 & 71 in BlockFF The steward told us we wud hav 2go way across other side! And we had just walked all the way round after being stoppd from crossing the players tunnel - the shortest way
* Re: tga councilrs payrise congrats to you! Y u got one we will neva no! You dont deserve it what do you do for us? Rest of us jus getin ratesrise whle uget more
* whatever happened to it being a public SERVICE not a public rort !! councilars should be on a median wage until they stop raisin rates
* John key our pm cant afford a private chopper typical pm multibizo owner
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Anna Keogh and her husband Kyle were told they'd never conceive their own children.