Editorial: A little bit could go a long way

A little bit goes a long way for senior citizens on fixed incomes. Photo / Duncan Brown

If the Napier City Council wants to attract people to its region the first thing it needs to do is look after those already there.

No one wants to move into a community where ratepayers are moaning about their councillors.

A huge step in the right direction would be to reverse its decision about discounts for the elderly.

There has been outrage on Hawke's Bay Today's Facebook page over this decision. One comment said: "In the words of Martin Luther King - his persistent and most urgent question that may be a great question to put to our local govt/council representatives - What Are You Doing For Others?"

It's not as if the concessions asked for are going to cost the city a huge amount of money.

But a little bit goes a long way for senior citizens on fixed incomes with no hope of topping up their pensions.

Why not discount the price of entry to Napier Aquatic Centre and the Ocean Spa, for that matter?

Helping the elderly to stay fit and healthy will benefit the community in the long run.

These people have paid taxes and, most likely, rates all their adult lives; they deserve a little bit of help in their golden years.

Hastings offers reduced rates to The Frimley and Clive pools along with Splash Planet, The Village Pool and Flaxmere Waterworld.

Good on Hasting councillors for looking after them.

So come on Napier City councillors, rethink your decision and just remember that if you are very lucky, one day you will be a senior citizen.