Letters: RDRR not political jousters

Rotorua Lakes Council building. Photo/File

Please allow me to give Mike Byrne's insult (Letters, 21 July) the inattention it deserves.

The RDRR has no interest in political jousting. It has repeatedly acknowledged the fine service of most public servants, despite the toxic environment they work in. It campaigns for Council to exhibit pragmatism, fairness, financial prudence, compassion, and evidence-based planning.

Keith Garratt (Letters, 21 July) used similarly personal attacks to support the fake awards. He used the term "sabotage" forgetting that the term was last used to explain why Mudtopia failed. He claimed that I insulted the judges and questioned their honesty and integrity. Wrong. Nobody has questioned their role.

What I questioned was the secrecy of the applications and the absence of a local reality check, raising serious doubts about the validity of the data the judges considered. Tracey McLeod (Letters, 20 July) questioned the criteria used to evaluate the applications and how counter evidence made the awards implausible.

Until these questions are answered, in my view, it is reasonable to conclude that the fake awards were given to Council for submitting the best fairy tales, in a desperate attempt to halt falling public confidence in their 'Big Moves'. (Abridged)

Reynold Macpherson
Rotorua

In only seconds ...

The bold print headline (Local News, Thursday July 19) "Tricycle escape admission" with further wording "... centre accepts staff should have called back-up" was eye catching.

I presumed it was about the Kawerau siege or a prison breakout by dangerous thugs and that the required back-up was possibly the AOS.

Instead, the "escapees" were three little 4-year-old girls on an adventure.

Yes, three little "escapees" who used their initiative and problem-solving skills followed by some quick decision making to pedal faster "to get away from those adults".They deserve top marks.

They are astute enough to know that's what offenders do, put your foot on the pedal to get away from those adults, the pursuing police.

It is not feasible for duty staff at schools and child learning centres to keep their eye on every child for every second - accidents usually happen in seconds.

How often have we heard/read of yet another child tragedy - by drowning or by a reversing car- usually on private property during a family gathering?

At these tragedies you can be assured the child-to-adult ratio is greater than that required for early childhood centres and still accidents happen.

There's an informal saying - "you need eyes in your backside". I doubt if even that could solve the problem.

I trust all sensible parents and all folk responsible for children are understanding of the position of the staff where this bold, daring and dangerous breakout occurred.

Kay Leamy
Rotorua