Letters: Hīkoi highlights homeless plight

Hikoi for homeless. Photo / Stephen Parker

Thank you to your correspondent, Ryan Gray, (Letters, May 30), for highlighting the critical needs of Rotorua's homeless, as portrayed in Monday's Hīkoi for the Homeless.

I agree with Gray that the Labour-led Government has committed huge funding in acknowledgement of our national housing crisis.

Unfortunately for Rotorua's homeless, however, this funding will not be available in Rotorua until the end of winter.

A night shelter providing emergency accommodation until the end of winter is needed now! I took part in the hīkoi, which was peaceful and respectful.

I noted that Rotorua Lakes Council security guards appeared to outnumber the councillors (about four in number), who fronted up to listen to the hīkoi members.

MP Tamati Coffey stated that night shelters create dependency. Unfortunately, without immediate action from both local and central Government, it is on the cards that there will be homeless people dying this winter.

We will watch Thursday's full council meeting with interest.

Jackie Evans
Rotorua

Street sealing
I agree entirely with R Mayes (Letters, May 26) who wrote in stating resealing on local streets is abysmal.

I drive down Devon St daily. From the stadium down to the Old Taupo Rd roundabout is appalling.

Right from day one the track where the cars drive did not cover sufficiently and the loose gravel was thick along the kerbs.

Malfroy Rd is not a lot better.

Cobbe Place was resealed last year just the same.

Driving over the manhole covers is like driving on a bullock track.

In the long run cheaper is not always better.

Joy Wood
Rotorua