Letters: Retailers should take earthquake precautions

Damage inside the Waiau Lodge Hotel following the 7.5 M earthquake that struck north-Canterbury 14 November 2016 NZME photograph by Belinda Feek

Like a lot of people in Rotorua, we were woken by the earthquake that seemed to go on forever. No damage thankfully but it makes me shudder to see the damage inflicted in other parts of the country far away from the epicentre.

What concerns me is that in spite of the obvious damage done, we have in this city retailers who take no notice of what has occurred and stack their surplus stock even on pallets, high above their customers' heads.

With the narrow aisles between rows this practice is a tragedy waiting to happen. If an earthquake of the magnitude that hit Kaikoura was to hit Rotorua it would cause multiple deaths, during business hours.

To me this shows a lack of concern on the part of both the retailers who use this method of storage and the authorities for allowing it in the first place.

In light of what has just happened I would suggest both parties take a good hard look at how safe are our retail outlets for their customers and staff working in these places.

Fortunately to my observation there are not too many who store stuff this way but in an earthquake even one is too many.

We don't want what would be preventable deaths in this city should a quake happen.

AJ MacKENZIE
Rotorua

Since "Trump Triumphs'' (November 10) it has been sad to have so much negativity from columnists, ex-pats, street interviewees and JPC students - of the latter congratulations to Harrison for expressing his own thoughts.

Lizzie Marvelly, too, was very quick to board the anti-Trump train (November 12) and present "her" views.

It was heartening to have some positive comments from people broadminded enough not to be influenced by our mainstream media with its more liberal, biased views. Fed these views repeatedly they become accepted.

When Trump did himself no favours we heard it all. Did we ever hear Hillary being referred to by some Americans as "Hellary" and "Killary"? No, our media wouldn't want that.

I believe more from my sister who has lived in America 52 years (possibly longer than some of the anti-Trump interviewees) than I do from the media. Right now Margaret is one very happy and very relieved American Republican.

The elections are over. The people have voted. Some chose a candidate planning to build a wall- some chose a candidate planning to condone the killing of 2nd trimester unborn babies.

We hope and pray America will now again become great.

[Abridged]
KAY LEAMY
Rotorua