YOUR VIEW: Letters to the Editor

The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters and texts we have published in the newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Community gem an inspiration

Thank you for publishing the story on community gem Lois Whiting, who has been an inspiration for decades.
We at New Zealand Red Cross would also like to thank the many people who brightened up a spring day with a bloom by donating on Red Rose Day.
Funds raised from Red Rose Day go to general New Zealand Red Cross programmes with vulnerable people at home and overseas.
It's the hard work and passion of people like Lois, working in their own communities, who make Red Rose Day such a success every year.
HEATHER DABROWSKI New Zealand Red Cross, Western Bay of Plenty Events Coordinator

Thanks to PM
I am astonished at the negative publicity shown in regard to Prime Minister John Key's brilliant and successful efforts to keep the filming of The Hobbit in New Zealand.
This includes J Hubbard's cartoon in which he alleges the details of the deal have been kept secret.
Not so.
It has been clearly stated that there will be tax rebates and other concessions to the total value of $100 million for Warner Bros but the expected revenue for New Zealand will be well over $650 million.
Apart from this, the main reason for exaltation ought to be the fact that thousands of people will receive a regular income as filming is not just about actors but producers, cameramen, make-up artists, costume designers and makers, set builders, Weta creations, publicity - the number being employed is endless.
The life of an actor and all those involved in the theatre is very perilous but these creative "Hobbitists" can now pay their mortgages and put food on the table.
A few thanks to John Key is glaringly necessary.
M BROOKS Tauranga

Control of beaches
I greatly respect the Maori people as fellow Kiwis, and my many Maori friends.
But the idea of our National Government giving Maori leaders, or any other group, control of our local New Zealand beaches and foreshore scares me to death.
DENIS SHUKER Hibiscus Coast

Heroes to couple
On Thursday afternoon we were travelling from Auckland to Tauranga in our van, when a tyre blew out and we ended up in a ditch.
Luckily the van did not roll, but we were very shaken.
Several big trucks just passed us by and a few cars also.
Then a lovely couple in two four-wheel-drives stopped and comforted us and the young man got the van out of the ditch and rang the AA for us.
They made sure that we were all right and unfortunately we were too much in a state to get their names.
We think they were wearing t-shirts and caps with the Mitsubishi logo on but after making enquiries here, we could not find them.
We would like to thank them through this column and let them know just how much we appreciated their help.
They were heroes to this elderly couple.
FRANCES AND LOU WOLTMAN Papamoa

Missing out
Too often we read about this concert or that show being staged at Hamilton, Hastings or some other smaller provincial place than our own Tauranga.
Case in hand is the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain coming soon to Hastings and Hamilton as well as Palmerston North - but alas not to Tauranga.
Why do we continue to miss out on acts like this brilliant ukulele orchestra described as plucking brilliant and wonderfully clever by David Bowie?
T KAPAI Te Puna

Covering up in sport
In reply to Jean Davis' follow-up letter regarding beach volleyball, and setting aside the red herring of ogling old men and women, there is indeed a risk of sun-induced cancer for beach volleyballers, just like the rest of us.
Sunscreen is a simple and effective way to substantially reduce that risk.
Such measures are not always available in sport - professional boxers must wish they had a lotion to apply to their heads to ward off serious brain injury.
Having worked in the cancer care industry for over 20 years, my philosophy when asked is to try and communicate the risks, and give people the information they need on how to reduce them.
Often, at-risk activities with a high profile are good vehicles for passing the message to the population at large, as stated by Michael Watson in his earlier reply.
Our family lived for many years in the UK, France, and the United States, and I feel strongly that to go further and build up the role of the "fun police" in New Zealand would start to erode what attracted us back to this country, and sets it apart from many others.
DAVE MURRAY Bethlehem

Old ideas on nudism
Re: Naked truth about nudist lifestyle
These are old ideas that belonged to a time when categories existed and the fight to validate one's position of true freedoms in this sense mattered.
Today only the modernist who hasn't realised that the world has moved significantly past the old old days places themselves into oblivion.
How old is she?
Same age as Picasso and he's been dead a while.
HONA WIKEEPA Hurstville, NSW
TODAY'S TEXTS:
* I thnk in the case of people abusing housing new zealand propertys nds 2 b watchd mre crefuly as a resident of parkvale i see 1sthand tat people r nt using tem proply and shld hav ter finances cntrold mre 2 stop the extra mny tey get nt goin on food 4 ter kids and spendn it on liqour and smokes etc.its nt gd 4 our comunity
* First a fire,then the union,death threats, police escorts, guards 4 actors, an investigation both sides of the tasman with the world watching. Yeah, gr8 4 tourism. Best òf luck 2 freelance animators.
* First home buyers traditionally have bought cheaper homes. suddenly all the stats have them paired with average homes. a classic case of twisting information.
* Wunda hu da otha 5 wer da got let off da tiket. alng with henry
* Young males in twn learn 2 handle ur alcohol in town thn u wont get in2 fites.U r pathetic wish we cld name u ?
* Hi in response to the poor cat that was mangled the low life responsible If I caught him would not remain healthy for long Ash
* Lotto:in these econ times wudnt it b beta 2 half prize money + double amount of winners $5 mill 2 much 4 1
* the reason most pple dnt go 2 stand.is the young pple drinkn n acting a fool.u go 2 bar n res.where peace n positive energy is
* Can just c the lazy crs agreeing 2 pay dock depending on work effort. We no the ones going in2 hibernation until the next election
* Big ups to john harvey. The council has sat on its hands to long. Be brave and MAKE A DECISION ! Before down town dies
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Email: editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz
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The Editor
Bayof Plenty Times
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