Letters: Dangers in ignoring reality

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People react strangely when presented with facts that conflict with their beliefs. But it's dangerous when leaders reject data they don't like because it delays and magnifies the adjustments that changing reality demands.

For example, the Maxim Institute research shows that 44 of New Zealand's 67 territorial authorities, including Rotorua, will stop growing or start declining over the next 30 years.

Professor Spoonley's research in Rebooting the Regions similarly pinpointed economic and demographic drivers, such as the shrinking ratepayer base paying for local services and ageing infrastructure.

In my view, by extrapolating from current GDP numbers, the housing bubble, record immigration and PR-fuelled boosterism, mayor Steve Chadwick remains in deep denial. She boasts that her 2013-dated Vision 2030 is based on Te Arawa, Chamber and community partnerships.

The acting CEO of the Chamber has realised that "we should be using it [the Maxim Report] to take stock of our situation".

The report recommends that districts like Rotorua should accept and adapt to the broad forces at play in order to maximise growth where possible, while also managing the rate and wellbeing implications of the decline. Reality!

Please, council, base the Annual Plan 2017/18 on researched fundamentals. Denial is a dangerous option.

[ABRIDGED]
REYNOLD MACPHERSON
Rotorua

Not all agree
In her letter of February 28, your correspondent Mrs G Searancke states: Residents and ratepayers who live here and fund council, demand to be respected as "key stakeholders".

However, not all Rotorua residents and ratepayers concur with the philosophy of the RDRR (Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers).

As a Rotorua resident, I fully support the move by the mayors of Gisborne, the Far North and Rotorua in their bid to diminish poverty and inequality in their respective regions.

[ABRIDGED]
JACKIE EVANS
Rotorua

Good keen man
Kiwis don't come any better than George Mear; hunter, fisherman, outdoors man, all-rounder - and probably the best kind of neighbour one could hope for, friendly, always laughing at something or other - life never seemed to get him down!

Sadly George lost his wife Carolyn just before Christmas, she too was a wonderful person.

George came from the generation where folk cared for one another; meet him in the supermarket, town centre or collecting a pizza - he would always have time for a chat.

If there is a place where Kiwis go to rest then I am sure they will be darned glad to have him; we will miss him very much - a lovely man! Rest in peace George, you earned it mate.

JIM ADAMS
Rotorua

To me it is so sad that when a student leaves school to further their studies at tertiary education that they then become saddled with a student loan.

Our young people leave school, and then when wanting to advance their education are trapped into the debt cycle.

What sort of a country are we that we encourage young people to get into huge debt at a young age?

When people study and advance their learning they become an asset to the society they live in. Tertiary education should be an investment into our society and seen as advancing our young people to be active members of our city and country.

Education ought to be free - it should be our gift to the young as they seek to learn more and more about themselves and the world we live in.

To my way of thinking it is a modern form of slavery to cripple young people with debt as they seek to make their way in this complicated world of our making.

MICHAEL JONES
Rotorua

Re your article (Rotorua Daily Post, March 3) on inorganic pick-ups.

I think an inorganic collection once or twice a year an excellent idea and would support councillor Sturt in his quest to promote this project.

Some one may be able to make money out of a collection of this nature if it is done correctly.

RALPH DIXON
Ngongotaha