I have adopted beloved ex-racing greyhounds since 1997 and I am a board member of GREY2K USA, a national non-profit organisation that works to end the cruelty of dog racing. For more information, please visit www.grey2kusa.org
CARYN WOOD
Arizona, United States
I'm the mum of Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner and as much as I am for encouraging teens the responsibility of drinking and driving, I'm having difficulty with my daughter's accident being associated with drink-driving every time a teenager or young person has an accident or loses their life.
Kristi's accident was just that - an accident, involving her tyre blowing out in her car, causing her to lose control. Speed was not a factor, alcohol was not a factor.
As well as alcohol, I feel teens need educating on how to manage their car when it goes out of control, how to maintain their car mechanically and they should all have to attend a defensive driving course, all of which Kristi had done.
I applaud Jodie Lawson for the work she has done with the [teen driving expo] and have heard nothing but excellent comments on the speakers, the tools provided and the presentation and hope the people that did attend have taken something positive away to think about.
Losing a teen/child/family member to our roads is devastating and I wouldn't wish what we have been through on any family.
KAREN GARDINER
Rotorua
The latest drive to introduce capital value rating (previously rejected by the ratepayers) takes no account of the fact that residential and business ratepayers feel that the present rates are too high.
What is needed is a change in council outlook and reduction in staff numbers and a serious drive to reduce rates. Grand schemes like the lakefront development need to be put on hold.
The article by Jack Shallard cannot be called an independent view, as he has been too closely associated with the council.
Although I agree in general with user pays, this cannot be measured on capital values but rather by measuring consumptions.
ALAN DEVERSON
Rotorua
I recently went to the South Island and stopped at Kaikoura to do a spot of whale watching with my mokos.
We visited the Visitor Centre, as you do, and I took particular interest in looking for information about Rotorua.
Well I tell you, it was dismal. There was next to nothing there and for a city that prides itself on its tourist attractiveness, I think it has been let down badly.
There were a couple of Jasons guides, one for central and eastern North Island with Rotorua in it and a What's On Rotorua visitor guide and voucher booklet. Rotorua is not included in the AA free guide for the Bay of Plenty or the other guide book I could find. Sad.
We'd better hope the next [Destination Tourism Marketing] appointee will get on with the job for a little longer [than his predecessor] and the protagonists might want to look outside their comfort zone and see that the world is passing the gate at an ever-increasing speed.
Change always causes someone discomfort and crushes ambitions but it is inevitable and should be taken on board, even if it is with a grain of salt.
(Abridged)
ROD PETTERSON
Rotorua
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