I am no night owl so what it's like at night I have no idea with the heady mix of alcohol and drugs. Throw in some online shopping, hassles with parking and like many other cities in NZ, the CBD is looking shabby.
There is a generic air about the place with an overabundance of clothing, and beauty parlours.
What about a pedestrian mall down the main street with grass and a designated strip for bikes, with coffee shops and restaurants? I'm no town planner so I would leave it to the experts. That doesn't, in my view, include councillors who would probably just tinker, missing the big picture.
I did see half a dozen homeless on my walk.
(Abridged)
Lesley Haddon
Rotorua
Hope NZ history will be fairly taught
Of course, our children should be taught New Zealand history in school.
We did, so it surprises me that it has no longer been happening. But it concerns me that the teaching may be biased. I am hoping that this subject will be fairly taught, with due respect being given to the way things were in the early days of colonisation.
From my reading over the years, I have learned that there was good and bad, but that there was kindness shown in many instances.
My great-great-grandfather paid for his land with blankets. He was not a wealthy man, and those whom he purchased the land from were delighted.
Strange but true.
(Abridged)
A N Christie
Rotorua
