Rants & Raves: Learning to drive

Photo / Thinkstock

Tell us what you love about life in New Zealand — and what needs to change. Email rantandrave@nzherald.co.nz

Rant

We are teaching our 16-year-old to drive in a manual car. We are also trying to teach him to respect and have consideration for other road users. This is not made easy by drivers who use bullying tactics, along with their horns and hands, in an intimidating manner. Learn some patience, we were all learners once.

- Suzanne Cornford

Rave

We all hear stories putting down our health system and providers. I have just completed almost 2 months of cancer treatment, and I want to give a huge high five to the staff at Auckland City Hospital's radiation oncology department, especially the team at MV 4 for making my time with them so easy. Their friendliness and caring attitudes made it a pleasure to visit them every day. I'll miss seeing them. Thanks.

- Pete Henderson

Rant

On my power walks around Albany I pass the time by looking at car rego stickers on vehicle windscreens. During a 30-minute walk I regularly count up to 12 vehicles with expired registrations ranging from three months to two years. The other day I observed two vehicles that did not even have a sticker. I have also observed a school bus with outdated registration. I have been pursued all the way to the district court for a $60 parking ticket. Why are these people not pursued for the hundreds of dollars they owe?

- Ron Davis

Rave

A big thank you to the young man who was driving past our Manly house last week and spotted the keys in the boot of the car in our drive. He stopped, removed the keys and brought them to our door.

- Barbara

Rant

I see in the latest edition of Our Auckland, my rates are helping Auckland to be a great place to live. Could the council please spend some of that money cleaning up the Western Springs (lakeside) paths, mainly the northern side where it is impossible to walk without watching each step because of bird crap. I know it is a wildlife sanctuary but the council should ensure the paths are cleaned regularly.

- Judy

Rave

Visiting Auckland from the Bay of Islands, we had a problem with our Corolla. We contacted North Western Toyota and spoke to Paul who rectified the issue the same day and managed to squeeze the car in for a service. Nothing was too much trouble. Many thanks to Paul and the team.

- Gavin Hobbs