Rants & Raves: Who will be held accountable

Rant

When are the parents of young offenders and troublemakers going to be held accountable by our legal system for the crimes committed and trouble caused by their children? Why are there so many aggravated robberies, car thefts and burglaries involving those as young as 10 through to 16 and 17 years old? In the US, some states allow for victims of crime or their families to sue for neglectful and negligent parenting.

Fiona Allen.

Rave

In Auckland from Tauranga for school holidays. Googled "swimming pools" and found a YMCA leisure centre close to where we are staying. Upon entry, had an awesome surprise to learn my two school-aged children had free entry. A bonus find in what sometimes can be a costly exercise to find holiday entertainment. Thanks, YMCA.

Rachel Thomson.

Rant

Perhaps someone in the (clearly busy) IRD complaints department could explain why callers to the 0800 complaints line service are greeted with a recorded message asking you to hold the line in order to maintain your place in the queue, then after spending 2 minutes on hold, a different message says they are too busy to take the call! Would it be too much to ask of the IRD to tell callers when they are too busy to take a call BEFORE asking them to hold for 2 minutes?

Ray Slade.

Rave

Congratulations to Auckland City team for extending the left-turning lane from Hillsborough Rd to Mt Albert Rd. The difference in having little or no backlog on Hillsborough Rd is amazing. Now if they fix the camber for traffic turning right from Mt Albert Rd to Hillsborough Rd so that vehicles, especially trucks and buses, don't have that horrible lean towards the motel on the corner, we will all be happy campers.

Jim Radich.

Rant

I made a special trip into Britomart, Auckland City, on Saturday, September 27, to post a business letter which I was expecting would reach its destination in a Parnell PO Box by Tuesday at the latest. It was delivered the following Thursday, October 2. Six days to deliver mail approximately 1km down the road. Thanks, NZ Post -- I missed the deadline, of course!

Linda Lang.

Rave

The SH16/SH20 project is the biggest construction job in NZ. Buses and motorists have their routes disrupted at times to accommodate the works -- but not cyclists. This is because the board of inquiry granted Cycle Action's request for a condition guaranteeing access for cyclists. The NZTA's alliances doing the work are impressive in keeping faith with this condition, consulting cyclists regularly and in providing the best practical cycling conditions possible. It's no easy task to do this -- and we're hugely grateful!

Barbara Cuthbert.

Tell us what you love about life in NZ - and what you don't. Write to rantandrave@nzherald.co.nz.