Election
* One million NZers didn't bother to vote! Egyptians only just gained the right. Who do we think we are? The old soldiers must be turning in their graves. R. McCool
* Election 2011: NZ should be ashamed after that terrible voter turnout. Don't these people care about this country? So much for our country working together, sad.
* All you non voters deserve what you get and have no right to complain.
* Does B Crene consider the National party candidates offer of a lift to the polling booths as electioneering on election day?
* Thanks to Stuart Nash for his input to the numerous powers that want to be. I hope he will remain a Labour candidate for Napier.
* I do hope Stuart Nash stays in Napier and contests the next election. He had a strong campaign and did well to cut Mr Tremain's lead from 08. He will be missed as a local MP.
* Hope this national government will support communities and the underclass.
* With so many working class Kiw?s going to Australia to earn a good wage it's no wonder the rich man's party gets back in to govern again. Maybe the exodus is a cunning plan to strip the country of ordinary working people? Typically Labour voters.
* Phil Goff should not fall on his sword. I don't think it was him that failed.
Abortion
* Re anti abortionists: We see that you are trying to make a point, but do you think about the babies that come into the world to alcoholics, abusers, no money etc. Do you think about what happens to those poor kids? AI
* Re abortion protesters: Idiot fundamentalists. Would love to see some rationalists promoting sex education and contraception instead.
* My mother was the president of SPUC (Society for Protection of Unborn Children). She took me to meetings as young as 10yrs. In my 20s I had two abortions and no regrets. MM
* Can you please explain what is disgusting about an unborn baby? DU
* Protesters not disgusting but it's disgusting that 500 babies are aborted at HB Hospital every year. It's a sick society that thinks its OK.
* Could the lady whose daughter accepted the abortion information also accept that the school can arrange an abortion for her without consulting the parents. Which would she prefer? C T
* Spraying I live in Kirkwood Road opposite the orchard spraying. We have never been drenched let alone felt damp.Janet
* Re crop spraying: Why build houses so close to an orchard and what is a wire fence going to stop? Money a factor again not lives. GB
* We too were hit by spray in a Bay View orchard while picking. No warning, no signs out to say spraying was going to happen. JB.
Poverty
* To the mother who is forced to feed kids junk food : If you make good choices then it is not the case. I wonder do you have a vege garden? The price excuse has been overdone.
* Love to know what junk food fed to kids. How can it be cheaper than spuds, mince, sausages etc. Maybe needs lessons in cooking on low income. I did it! Nan
* Child poverty is not caused by parents but the ever widening disparity gap between rich and poor and the rising cost of living
* To the mum who is forced to feed her kids junk food: Do you have a garden? Plant veges. I can bake five batches of baking for kids lunches out of two pound of cheapest butter. Bottle fruit when cheap. I have four kids, a part time job and junk food is a treat.
Other thoughts
* To the low lifes who smashed our roses over our fence, kicked a Give Way sign then walked along down the road and kicked a tree. Hope someone kicks you one day creeps!
* It's not the drivers doing 90/80kph who hold up traffic on open road but the idiots directly behind them who hesitate to pass when there's a gap in oncoming traffic. And if you are late get on the road earlier.
* It's a motorway. If you can't drive at 100km/h find another way.
* Great to see Yvonne Lorkin's top 50 wine picks. But how about ones the average person can afford? Who can fork out $30 for bottle of wine let alone $100.
* Longer lasting bread would have to be filled with chemicals and additives. Don't fall for it people. Poison is poison no matter how you gloss over it.
* Has anyone checked out the number of pages in this year's 2011 to 2012 yellow pages = 407? 2010 to 2011 was = 467 pages. 2009 to 2010 was = 490 pages. 2008 to 2009 was = 552 pages. That's 145 less yellow pages in four years. How many businesses disappeared locally does that come to? Nationwide would be a scary number. Could hardly call that growth and a brighter future.
* HBRC should pay to eradicate Argentine Ants. Why should we pay for control on our sections when incursion was through HBRC owned port of Napier.
* The Government should grow biologically and sell the food products to the world, not sell what's under the ground. Let the Australians do that and we can watch what happens when there is nothing left. Isn't it the property owners responsibility to keep vegetation from their property from obstructing public footpaths, not the passer-by or council? An example is cnr Duart Rd and Gillean St. HN