Victoria St
The headline in relation to work on Victoria St says "AT admits cycleway project is running late" (NZ Herald, February 15). This is not the case. We have always planned on the major construction work being completed by the end of February with the whole project finished mid-year.
The bulk of the work will be completed within weeks; these require more restrictive traffic conditions for the safety of construction workers and the public. These works were planned for this time of year to minimise the impacts on Aucklanders – many of whom have been on holiday at some point between Christmas and Waitangi Day - and to coordinate with other city centre projects.
At the end of this work, traffic lanes will be re-opened.
We have always maintained that "easier" construction works will be completed after that, finishing in the middle of the year. The next stages are road resurfacing, lane markings (painting), tree planting, and so on. This will be done mostly at night - again to limit the impact to a smaller number of Aucklanders
We look forward to the next piece of Auckland's increasingly well-patronised cycling network and improved footpaths by mid-2020.
Mark Lambert, Executive GM Integrated Networks at Auckland Transport.
Envy tax
Your correspondent Neville Cameron (NZ Herald, February 18) seems to think that imposing a tax on housing will lower the price. Taxes invariable increase prices, not reduce them.
Most residential landlords are long-term buy-and-hold investors, not speculators.
Those people who do buy and sell and who could be defined as speculators are already liable for and do pay income tax on any profit they make.
Basically a Capital Gains Tax becomes an envy tax. You've got it, I hate you for having it, so you should be taxed on it.
Peter Lewis, Forrest Hill.
Tax breaks
The National Party wants to reduce the tax burden for middle-income earners (NZ Herald, February 18). I applaud this, as it is long overdue.
However, in my opinion it is better to reduce the tax burden of people on low income. People on the minimum income (about $20 per hour or $40,000 per annum) have not been compensated for the introduction of GST; nor the increase to 12.5 per cent; nor the increase to 15 per cent; nor the many other incremental rises of taxes such as petrol tax. This substantial elimination of income tax for the first $40,000 benefits everyone and not just those on middle incomes.
I would replace this with a sugar tax at the border (which would affect all products that include added sugar and not just fizzy drinks). This would produce a healthier nation with reduced medical bills.
Plus an annual tax on investment property (similar to rates but going to the central government) that cannot be passed on to the tenant or lessee. This would help shift our investments away from real estate towards income and job-producing investments.
Brian Taylor, Lynfield.
Reduced driving
Kent Millar (NZ Herald, February 18) reckons you need a car in Auckland and he's probably right, but I'd suggest a couple of tweaks in thinking to clarify that.
Take the T3 lanes; They are not empty; they contain packets of up to 70 people who have chosen not to compete for road space. In return, they can do things with phones, tablets and paper that drivers can't.
It's not about having or not having a car. What if you think in terms of taking part of a car off the road, rather than all? You can, if you take time to learn AT's network and how to use it.
From Royal Oak, I can consistently get to town in 35 minutes, Manukau in 40 and Glenfield in 60. Nothing has to run exactly to time, my phone tells me where they are and gives me options.
As a result, I've reduced my driving from 10,000km a year to 8000. I've taken a fifth of my car off the road, and made it a little easier for those who have no choice.
No, I'm not a cyclist. It's all in the way you think about it.
Mike Diggins, Royal Oak.
Limit cars
I agree with the points made by correspondent Kent Miller (NZ Herald, February 18), that bikes will not supplant cars to navigate our city, or reduce the number of cars on the road.
Sure, our visionary city planners have sold the idea that cycling is a great way of maintaining fitness and a viable mode of transport, but some of the zealots see cycling as just an alternative to using their cars, especially in winter.
The ideal would be to limit car access to the CBD; the strategy of sharing space with pedestrians in the inner city is a move in the opposite direction.
Ellie Carruthers, Eden Terrace.
Short & sweet
On investments
Nice to see NZ house prices recovering 7 per cent in the year to January. But the 29.7 per cent gain in the sharemarket's NZ50G index over the period gets more of my attention, and my money.
Steve Ellis, Takapuna.
On National
With National's promise of tax cuts and more money in our back pockets (and handbags), Ms Bennett will soon be able to upgrade to the latest even more iconic, gruntier and more fun motor vehicle of her choice. Norm Murray, Browns Bay.
On Elton
I hear that walking pneumonia is very bad especially when accompanied by the boogie woogie flu. Nevertheless, we wish Elton a speedy recovery and back to doing what he does best. Dave Pike, Beachlands.
In 2008, Neil Diamond gave a full performance with a raspy voice (laryngitis) and afterwards apologised to fans and offered a full refund. R Ainsbury, Martinborough.
On MPs
Mankind has invented many things. Coffee without caffeine. Beer without alcohol. Hopefully parliament without idiots is next. Pim Venecourt, Papamoa.
On rugby
John Stevens has echoed my sentiments exactly. The rugby rule-makers have somehow lost the plot. The game has become boring with the constant intervention of the referee. Ben Arthur, Massey.
On Gifford
The articles that Phil Gifford presents in your newspaper are nothing short of superb. Accurate, to the point and full of good humour. Dennis Ross, Glendowie.
On anthems
Ailsa Martin-Buss asks if anyone knows what "Advance Australia Fair" means. I do. It is the line that comes immediately before "Suck of the Sav, Sport." Tom Frewen, Horowhenua.
