Your view: Letters to the editor

Winston Peters answers media questions after his address to about 200 Whangamata people in September. Photo/file

Biodegradable bags the answer

"Supermarkets are eliminating the bags - great news. Not nice to see seals with bags over their heads.
"They say they are all one-use bags, which is a big lie as most bags are used by homes to recycle rubbish and for other purposes. Landfill content by bags is negligible.
"Where are we going to get the replacements? We will have to buy bags from the supermarkets - happy profits. How will the amount of bags be reduced in that case?
"I have to admire my Irish home jurisdiction which placed a tax on bags.
"They covered all the angles - even the paper bags were hit. If we want to solve the bag problem here the answer is simple.
"Mandate the use of bio-degradable bags. If the supermarkets can't do that then let them supply paper bags like the supermarkets in the US and Canada do."

Maurice Mckeown
Welcome Bay

Short memories

"It has become very obvious to me that the dirty politics are continuing.
"I voted for change - not for the same old, in my view, lies and cruelty we have had for the past nine years.
"Have you all got short memories?
"The flag, the hair pulling, then abandoning the sinking National ship.
"I have had enough. Mr Peters please don't go with the swines in the trough.
"Not only will you lose the support of me and many others, but your integrity.
"It is vital to get change from the continued "rich-get-richer, poor-get-criticised".
"Remember when Jenny Shipley sacked you because of your opinion? Please, oh please Mr Peters don't have a short memory. Waiting for change. (Abridged)
Mike Pratt
Tauranga

Tribalism issues

"I can understand Tommy Wilson's disappointment about the Maori Party's result but such a scenario is not unusual.
"Many voters do not think deeply about their country's future. I would have felt the same for our country if Labour had received another 10 per cent of the votes.
"The problem which Maori have had, and will always have, is that they are tribal and there is deep territorial feelings which regularly result in high-profile clashes. The recent blocking of roads and harbour because of a perceived grievance against Hauraki is an example. Hardly the way to get local non-Maori to support your view?
"Pakeha are also tribal but the difference for example is those from Britain left their tribalism back with their British ancestors. But it's still there back in Britain between the Scots, Irish, Welsh and English.
"All around the world there are tribal spats and vicious wars. New Zealand will always need to take care that we do not escalate into the sort of terrorism which we saw in Northern Ireland a few decades ago. Maori have had a good run recently through being aligned with National. Democracy is very fragile."

Bill Capamagian
Tauranga

David Stewart with the jute and biodegradable plastic shopping bags he offers at The Fresh Market store in Gate Pa. Some readers agree with the environmentally-friendly options. Photo/file

" In my last posit, some have commented I was a little tough on the National government."I admit, they've done much more than just stop the bleeding in welfare payments as today's news bears out."Four billion over budget is an astounding result given the current world. This is $4 billion more in income for the government than they budgeted for 12 months ago."If this is not a country on the go, then I don't know what is."Yes, I know we're importing people by the tens of thousands."And yes I know our houses are worth far too much money."And yes, our roads are just far too busy these days, but hey, do you really want the opposite?"We're on a roll and we'll just have to get used to it."Or you could always go to the Cook Islands to live."Graeme MartinTauranga