Tell us what you love about life in New Zealand — and what needs to change. Email rantandrave@ nzherald.co.nz
Rant The pill package Medicopak - which is the only option the pharmacist will give you for your forgetful elderly parent - is so badly designed that it sends most normal people mad. Going from bottom to top, impossible to open and lacking any easy logic to follow, you can onlypresume they were designed by scientists for scientists. You might think they would test them on the elderly before declaring how great they are. Fiona Edgar
Rave A big thank you to the kind gentleman at Waitakere Hospital car park who paid for my parking when the machine wouldn't accept my card. (It wouldn't accept his card either, so if the hospital authorities insist that we pay for parking maybe they should fix their machines.) Pat Wootten
Rant I registered two cocker spaniel puppies at the council. I now receive a notice saying I need a multiple dog licence, involving another fee, approval from all neighbours and a home inspection. I live on Western Park containing multiple pesty possums. Does the council license its own animals? Double standards. The council should eradicate possums from its parks and back off ratepayers who own two dogs. JHL
Rave Thanks to the lady at Watercare Services who rang to say our water bill was excessively high this month and on hearing we had had a leak advised me how to access their website in order to claim a rebate. Now that's what I call service. Ann Haynes
Rant Our house and our neighbour's were broken into two weeks ago, and the police follow up was absolutely slack. No wonder break-ins are so common in Auckland [if] the police are too busy to be concerned. So the unchecked thieves continue while we are working, earning an honest living. Karyn Siviter
Rave At the Auckland Zoo yesterday, my elderly mother lost her balance and fell after exiting the car. My heartfelt thanks to the young men who came to her aid and helped her to the administration office where friendly and very competent staff rendered First Aid. Throughout this potentially negative experience we were met with kindness and support, allowing us to continue our visit to a first-rate facility. Rhonda