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:
Freedom campers free to bludge
It appears Fergusson Park, Matua is the latest free camping ground in Tauranga.
Seven camper vans/truck/vans were lined up along the waterfront this morning, two
of which have been there for six days now.
With the free hot showers, the free gas barbecues and one of the best water front views in Tauranga, why don't we all head on down and take advantage of the ratepayers funding our holiday.
Once upon a time Fergusson Park was a wonderful scenic family park to enjoy.
Now it just looks like a shabby rest area full of bludging campers.
L DRUMMOND Matua
Still the same
It just goes to show how important reading and comprehension are, as Greg Soar (Your View, January 17) completely misinterpreted my letter concerning the Maori Party.
Just to spell things out in a clearer fashion, I am so white I am almost transparent (ie. I am not Maori).
Personally I disagree with quite possibly every single unprincipled policy of the Maori Party.
However, I do stand up for the right for people - any people - to start a party called the Maori Party and for them to have policies that relate to Maori issues.
They are no different from all the other parties.
I do, however, have the right not to have to vote for them.
My letter was simply to illustrate that the Red, the Green and the Blue Parties of the left are no different from the Brown Party.
They all rely on the use of force and the counting of heads - not their content.
They rely on the principle that might is right.
What is very interesting is that you are all about to find out how seriously faulty this system is now that you are about to have a Chinese people's party to contend with. I can hear you all squealing now when they get a majority and the Chinese get a say in how to spend your stolen loot.
(Abridged)
GRAHAM CLARK Lower Kaimai
Forward together
Denis Shuker's letter (Your View, January 11) contains basic factual errors.
The bill is called the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill and it will repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.
The bill was not hatched in secret with closed hearings.
It was made available for public submissions and public hearings were held around the country, including Tauranga.
He alleges that Maori people will use sacred sites to close off beaches to the public.
Let us look at Mauao, the coastal mountain that is sacred to local Maori.
Since it was returned to local iwi the public continue to have the same access as before.
Any reasonably fair-minded person would have to admit that Maori people have received a very poor deal over the last 160 years. Vast tracts of land were wrongly confiscated by the Crown and iwi have accepted compensation of less than 5 per cent of the value of the land taken.
Many issues in this bill are difficult and controversial.
But if we work through them with mutual goodwill we can achieve an outcome where public access to beaches can exist side by side with Maori customary title and we can move forward together as a nation.
TONY NOBLE Mount Maunganui
Arrogant anti-heroes
What a sick society when arrogant, obese, defiant 19-year-olds make front-page news for flouting the law (News, January 14).
Brands Men cockily states if fined for his law breaking he would "stick it on the tab".
Do we assume he has other fines?
Tagging, vandalism and boy-racer antics come to mind.
This dropout obviously wants to fast-track his lifestyle choice as a beneficiary.
When he injures himself and becomes a "victim" the taxpayer will cough up for his ACC, and sickness benefit.
If not injured through stupidity, his backup is Type II diabetes looking at the girth on him.
Treatment will again be funded by the taxpayer, allowing him to further cop out of responsibility, this time for his own health.
Where are the role models for these dipsticks?
Oh, I see where they are - buried inside your paper.
You make a hero of Brands Men by giving him front-page glory when true NZ heroes Colonel Apiata and Brigadier Dean are demoted to page three.
If Brands Men and mates don't have the benefit (excuse the terminology) of responsible caring families to instill decent values and attitudes, we must give society's real heroes more prominence.
M PRICE Oropi
Blissful spectacle
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Indian wedding on TV with the horses and flowers and colours and beautiful women, handsome men and happy fathers.
But when one of your correspondents (Your View, January 12) complained about the starving millions, I thought, how do we know that the millionaire isn't one of the biggest philanthropists towards India anyway?
No matter how much was spent, it would never be enough and would never show.
Just enjoy their happiness.
JOYE ADAMS Mount Maunganui
Time for DIY church
There are some great churches in Tauranga with great people but they tend to follow a format where a few "approved" people "minister" to a congregation.
This is not the way Jesus and his disciples set things up at the start.
There is no one in the New Testament who operated in the modern role that is called pastor, vicar or minister.
This role evolved from about the third century onwards.
It's like we follow what the Bible teaches in every respect except how we "do church".
People all over the world are finding God outside of "traditional church" in informal groups that are sometimes called "simple" or "organic" churches, where everyone's contribution is valued.
Several people have written books about this, my favourite being Frank Viola.
I believe the time is right for this and we will see a lot of change in the coming years.
If you are feeling that this might be the way ahead for you, why not find some others who feel the same and start "pursuing God" together?
I would recommend, though, that you get hold of some books by someone like Frank Viola or Neil Cole who have learnt how not to do it.
TIM FELLOWS Tauriko
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