Rants & Raves: Passports

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

Rave
I renewed my passport online on June 29, got an email June 30 saying my passport was done. It was delivered to my front door by courier early on July 1 - great service.

L. Wayne P

Rant
When I call NZ Super Inquiry line, 0800-552-002, the lines are usually overloaded unless you call first thing in the morning. It can take up to three phone calls before you actually get to speak to someone. Clearly this government department needs more staff as the poor staff working on these lines must be overloaded themselves!

Judy

Rave
Just wanted to say a huge "thank you!" to all the volunteers who organise community events in our area. Just this last weekend, walking distance from home, we attended a quiz night in support of netball, a bingo night to raise funds for the community garden (all three generations enjoyed it) and an orienteering event at the intermediate school. Great fun and no one had to get drunk to enjoy themselves. Love it here!

Sarah D

Rant
On June 29. a car broke down around 7am on Auckland's Northwestern Motorway, resulting in serious rush "hour" delays. Because of motorway upgrades due to be completed in 2017, there is no shoulder for emergency stops for a 10km stretch of this major motorway. How is it tenable that a break-down involving just one car results in the order of 10,000 to 20,000 hours of lost productivity? Why don't the authorities bring in an emergency tow-truck with lights/sirens which can swiftly mitigate such delays while the no-shoulder zone is in place?

Trevor

Rave
It's great to see high school students who ride the Manukau-to-Britomart train line give up their seats to full-paying commuters and others in need. Nice to know the younger generation still have manners.

Anon

Rant
To all those car drivers who abuse me as I ride my motorcycle up the lanes of stationary traffic at rush hour: You are obviously incredibly frustrated, angry people and it's not my fault that you choose to sit in traffic. I choose to ride a motorcycle. If I want to sit in traffic, I take the car and accept that motorcycles, scooters and bicycles will ride on by - good on them. Don't take your anger out on us just because we can move.

Bevan