Editorial: Still a joy in letter writing

FILE

IS letter writing a relic of the past? We report today how post boxes have been slowly disappearing, not just in Rotorua, but around the country. In the past nine years the number of letters dealt with by NZ Post has halved.

That's unsurprising - why bother writing a letter when you can instantly email, text, Skype, Viber or FaceTime someone?

That goes for all ages, with technology being embraced across the generations. However, there are still many people, especially, but not limited to the elderly, for whom writing a letter means putting pen to paper, finding a stamp and popping it in the post box.

We regularly receive letters to the editor through the post, and I always enjoyed handwritten letters from my grandmother while living overseas - complete with newspaper cuttings she thought I might enjoy. I never had the heart to tell her I'd read the same news online weeks beforehand.

It's a tough one. NZ Post is a state-owned enterprise but it also has to operate as a business. Maintaining post boxes that may only receive a handful of letters a day is obviously not a wise business move.

So one would hope people would offer a helping hand to elderly neighbours, family and friends. Offer to pick up their post and take it to the post office. Or give them and/or their letters a lift to the nearest post box.

Along those lines, it's lovely to read about St Michael's School students writing letters and making cards for some of our isolated elderly residents. I am sure the kids get just as much, if not more, out of it than the recipients.

I still have box loads of letters, yes the old-fashioned kind, exchanged with friends and penpals as a kid. The thrill of seeing a letter in your mail box beats the thrill of a new email any day, and make for nostalgic times looking back at them.

Hopefully with efforts in schools such as St Michael's, and initiatives such as next week's Snail Day, letter writing won't become extinct.

News of Mauriora Kingi's sudden death was met with shock and an outpouring of grief yesterday. Mayor Steve Chadwick described his death, at just 53, as a huge loss, not just for Rotorua, but for New Zealand - a sentiment echoed by many other leaders.

It was just last weekend the Rotorua Daily Post spoke with and photographed Mr Kingi for Monday's story announcing he'd been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Those who knew and loved him have said it best in their tributes yesterday and will continue to do so as Mr Kingi is farewelled over the coming days.

All we can add is thank you Mauriora for your dedication and service to our community. Our thoughts, as with many around the country, are with your whanau and friends. Rest in peace.