Thank you for recent articles highlighting groups supporting Rotorua's growing homeless population.
Yet what, in terms of practical and immediate support, are Rotorua Lakes Council and central Government (i.e MP Todd McClay) doing to alleviate this appalling, and indeed Third World situation in boomng and prosperous Rotorua?
Newly elected mayorSteve Chadwick is encouraging upper middle class Aucklanders to buy in Rotorua, ignoring the fact that our town has unprecedented numbers of homeless citizens, including families with children, living in cars, garages and even sleeping rough.
I commend Love Soup, which carries out its support for the homeless largely from its own pockets. What a shameful indictment upon local and central government. In my view a large motel should be purchased for homeless famiies, with joint funding from iwi, local and central government. Funding support should then be allocated to Love Soup to manage the motel, and co-odinate support for homeless families into independent living.
With hype about Rotorua's booming economy and tourism figures, in my opinion Rotorua Lakes Council and Todd McClay are turning a blind eye upon the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community - including the elderly and young children.
My admiration and big thanks go to all the wonderful, kind and hard working doctors and nurses, hospital volunteers, rest home workers and Lakes Care health people in Rotorua who have been treating my wife so far.
I watched the crowd who did the breast cancer walk near the lake last Wednesday. I feel so proud to live in Rotorua with such positive people of all different races working together. Since moving here, I think I have found another New Zealand gem to live in.
