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
Drop the big ideas, cut public debt level
My concern regarding the possible decision to dispense with the carparks on The Strand is not so much about the loss of
these parks, although this is significant, but the cost.
Surely with our rates going through the roof and all the debt this council has run up, it is time for the council to take a very deep breath and stop spending money on non-essential fancy ideas and concentrate on reducing debt and rates.
R Appleford, Mount Maunganui
Magnificent effort
I'd like to publicly extend my congratulations to Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui Cricket Club Premier Team who, with no publicity nor fanfare, became the first Bay of Plenty side to achieve a second successive year as champion club for Northern Districts by winning the Eric Petrie Cup on Sunday.
They managed this with nearly six overs to spare and after losing their four top batsmen in the first 10 overs - such is the calibre of this team.
Mount Maunganui beat off challenges from local clubs and both Hamilton and Northland champion clubs and will now represent Northern Districts at the national club championships to be held in Auckland from April 5 to 10.
This is a truly magnificent effort from a team that has developed strength in depth over the past few years, can field to a high standard week after week, present a strong balanced seam and spin attack and can bat down to number 11.
It is a team of young men who have developed enviable camaraderie - tough competitors but good sportsmen.
Good on you guys.
David Hill, Tauranga
Plan hurry up
Re: Straight Talk (Opinion, March 15).
I fear that the standard "let's set up steering committee or let's wait till the recommendations from Christchurch's Royal Commission are published in three years time" excuses coming.
Why not shift the council, key council staff, civil defence people and their families to the Papamoa Beach TOP 10 Holiday Resort until they come up with a real plan and all solutions are in place.Bruce RaineyMount MaunganuiSirens must go up
The Tauranga City Council has taken far too long to make up its mind on what to do.
Come on guys, pull finger and put up the sirens that are sitting in the shed.
If we have a tsunami or a massive earthquake, how will we all know what is going on or do we all sit on our bums and wait for the tsunami to wash us away?
As for people panic when we hear a siren, what else are we to do but jump in our cars and head for the hills?
Tauranga City Council, please realise there is only one way out from Papamoa. If we walk to the hill the tsunami will get us before we get half way.
Ron Abbott, Papamoa
Many hazards
Rod Moyes is correct that many old shop verandas throughout NZ are hazards awaiting a strong wind or earthquake for them to collapse (Your View, March 15).
The main clue is that if diagonal suspension rods are holding them up, they are an accident waiting to happen.
It is strange that it took an architect to point the obvious out about engineering, but he speaks the truth.
Well done for broaching a sensitive topic, Rod.
Wind and earthquake can cause upwards forces on canopies, and if rods are holding them up, they buckle and the canopy is at risk of collapse.
In Christchurch upwards forces exceeded the weight of verandas (up to twice the weight was reported as experienced both upwards and laterally).
On a recent drive from Christchurch to Glenorchy I was appalled at the number of earthquake hazard brick buildings and dodgy canopies in every country town.
I guess the same is true of North Island.
Old building stock is the norm in small town NZ.
The appalling collapse of brick wall frontages and out-of-date canopies in Cashel and Colombo Sts in Christchurch is not unique to that city.
Earthquake hazard buildings are everywhere.
And councils everywhere have abdicated their responsibility.
The problem is, who pays the ferrryman?
Fraser Henderson - Consulting structural engineer, Mount Maunganui
Brain donation
Re: Tauranga couple to donate their brains to science (News, March 16)
My father had Alzheimer's and we as a family donated his brain to the neurological foundation in Auckland, which my mother now subscribes to.
They send her updated data on the research they have performed on his brain every so often.
And, as a family, this is very rewarding.
This was in 1999.
Pam Miedema, Oropi
Text views
* Re save, then spend: I totally support this comment of robert clark papamoa and ridiculous lights chudleigh Tauranga both of these are absolutely spot on! Do either one of these people want to run for council?
* How cruel can some people b?good on phil barnett 2 go 2 her home & take a bottle of wine what great customer service skills.shame on those other people.heather king reporoa
* We would like loud sirens. Thanks for the chance to vote. Also like to say we love new Saturday paper.
* What about th thousands that died in japan? Im givin money to them not nz.. The govenment can pay for that
* New traffic lights v.silly these transit fools luv cre8ng choke points round tga these r the same idiots that closed tepuna passing lane zero commonsense-frustration.
* Re. Rodney hide more mining. Perhaps va message isnt loud enuf. Mother nature is speakin to us right now
* Interesting that art gallery staff watch you make a generous donation then tell you rita angus exhibition costs extra. No wonder people dont go there. Too greedy
* Get over it Peter Monteith. I think the idea of having Community Kindy, is brilliant. I have 2 nephews at a Community Kindy, and the staff are just as good as the "qualified". Donations are easier for low income families!
* I totally agree tht the council should back off regarding banning smoking at baypark. Havent the councillors got any other business to deal with?
* People tht scoff at the tsunami warnings and go to the beach, good luck whn a warning turns into a disaster.
* Chch think they r soo hard done by..what bout ppl who dont have a home or food an water 24/7?
* If maori get the foreshore thing in there favour i wounder how much dollars maori will give towards the coastal warning system and its upkeep? It will be on maori land.
* The govt shuld not b selln al our business 2 overseas ppl
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