Letters: Give overseas students a break

International students should be treated fairly, says a reader. Photo/File

It was reported that overseas students are worth $70 million to Rotorua's economy so I think it's about time some in the business sector stop ripping them off when employing them, talk about killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

I have heard stories of overtime being done and then never paid, sick leave never paid out and the biggie of a student being offered a job and a contract to sign that doesn't recognise their qualifications even though they were done in New Zealand.

Put yourself in their shoes for a moment: New culture, language, it must be pretty daunting really and all they want is fair go from accommodation to employment.

That's not too much to ask for is it?

On the plus side you can make lifetime friends and learn about many cultures if you make the effort it should be a win win situation. (Abridged)

Gavin Muir
Rotorua

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Recently I took my 96 year old mother up to the Rotorua hospital for an appointment.

The staff were excellent but I did feel that it was a long walk from the entrance to the X-ray department (for a 96 year old).

Would it be a good idea to have a row of wheel chairs available at the entrance?

I know some of the locals would probably take a liking to them so I am sure they could be chipped to lock the brakes on outside the grounds. I would have raised this matter with the hospital but how?

Andy Watson
Rotorua

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The Rotorua Lakes Council at the last review, chose to increase Residential Rates by more than 8%. At the same time they chose to NOT increase the Commercial Rates at all. A 0% increase.

Given that rates should increase at about the rate of inflation, can we be assured that at the next review, the Residential Rate will not increase at all and that the Commercial Rates will increase by more than 8%? This would result in the average increase for 2 years, being 4+% per year for both groups of rate payers. What could be fairer than that?

If the planned expenditure requires more funding than this proposal would provide, then it is time to prune the non-essential expenditures.

A Estcourt
Rotorua