Letters: Ban smoking in all public places

A selection of letters to the editor. Have your say by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. Please also see letters rules at the bottom of this page.

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I did enjoy reading Brian Holden's column last week on banning smoking in all public areas in Auckland.

I think it's a jolly good idea.

If you can get a whole bunch of Aucklanders to toe the line, it might be worth trying here.

I've never smoked and get a tad peeved at smokers who take one drag on a fag, then prop it up out from under their nose so the smoke drifts over and annoys me.

Another thing that annoys me is the God-given right they have to chuck their filthy butts on the ground.

So ban the filthy habit from public places and let the dirty sods mess up their own backyards.

You've only got to walk past bars on a Friday morning before the "clean green" sweepies to see what I'm on about.

One butt is too many - ban it.

(Abridged)

Rod Petterson

Rotorua

I wish to make you aware of the unfair attitude of the Government and ACC regarding levies motorists pay for their registration.

I am aware many vehicles on our roads are unregistered and unwarranted.

The owners of these vehicles are given all the privileges honest vehicle owners get in the event of accidents, although they aren't paying levies.

This inflates the cost to honest drivers and I find this appalling.

Vehicles should be confiscated if the registration is 12 months overdue and, if the vehicles are involved in an injury accident, the owner should have to pay all medical and funeral costs.

Where I live, one in five vehicles is unregistered or unwarranted, often both, but they are still being driven on our roads.

These vehicles are in the same category as drink-drivers and speeding drivers, yet nothing seems to be done about it.

There's no point fining these owners as they are the type who don't pay, yet are still allowed to drive these time bombs.

Meanwhile, drink-drivers who kill and maim should be held accountable for their actions and charged for the costs of their actions by ACC.

What's the point having police handing out infringement notices when the courts and politicians let the situation carry on unabated and people continue being maimed and killed by these irresponsible owners.

This is an abysmal state of affairs.

Peter Anderson

Kawerau

Coastal Coalition reports a rush of iwi claims for customary title of the foreshore and seabed under the Government's new Marine and Coastal Area Bill are expected this year.

The law allows the deals to be done in secret - the public may not know what is being claimed until it is too late.

Last year under the Official Information Act, it was revealed that Te Rarawa will seek title for Shipwreck Bay in the Far North.

Shipwreck Bay is one of New Zealand's best surfing spots.

On the East Coast, Ngati Pahauwera has claimed the beaches north of Napier and south of Wairoa.

And also on the East Coast, Ngati Porou Ki Hauraki wants customary title over Kennedy Bay and Mataroa Bay on the Coromandel.

And Te Whanau a Apanui wants title over an area in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Iwi that meet the test could charge commercial operators, veto developments and impose wahi tapu to ban public access.

If you believe Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed should be restored we need 320,000 signatures to force apublic referendum.

Go to www.CoastalCoalition.co.nz for a New Zealand where we all have equal rights.

Denis Shuker

Hibiscus Coast

 

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