Letters: State housing guidelines should change

"State homes go to out-of-towners". Distressing indeed. "Government has to consider the country as a whole". Good, but once again, the locals, especially the more needy locals, get few or none.

Here's a solution — The ministry changes the guidelines so that locals, especially needy locals, get a guarantee of a portion of the new homes in any locality.

When out-of-towners get their share, they are done, the rest are reserved for those whom we, as a country, feel really need and deserve.
PHIL TRAUTMANN
Rotorua

Lake Okataina ramp

I tried to go fishing on Lake Okataina a couple of days ago but didn't dare try to back the trailer through the 400mm deep piles of sand and pumice on the ramp. It was a shame, as the lake looked picture perfect as befits the jewel in our lakes crown.

I was impressed that it was so clear, you could easily see the jetty deep under the water. Mind you, it wasn't that deep you couldn't wade along the jetty.

It occurred to me that I'd been complaining about this poor boat launching spot for ages with the same tired excuses from the Rotorua Lakes Council each time.

A floating jetty, as seen at tidal Tauranga harbour, would solve the fluctuating lake level problem, and a simple contractual arrangement with the lake Lodge owners or local bobcat operator would ensure the ramp was cleared after storms.

And next time we need to design the concrete walls to boat ramps perhaps not engage a panel beater for the design work as I assume has happened here.
B PARKES
Rotorua

Housing the elderly

It astounds me that in this climate of a national housing crisis, Rotorua Lakes Council is contemplating selling its units used for housing elderly citizens.

Here we have many of the most vulnerable of our people, some in the twilight of their lives, hit by circumstances beyond their control, leading them to depend on local body housing support and having virtually no real collective voice in such a proposal of change.

Surely if this local body had empathy towards its senior citizens, and there are many still on long waiting lists desperate to attain such accommodation, it would turn its heart and endeavours towards these people in need, putting aside goals of spending money on less necessary structures at huge cost.

Earning the right to stand tall in this beautiful city by opening its eyes to the real needs of the community is a far worthier legacy.
[Abridged]
PAUL BAKER
Rotorua