Letters to the editor: Enough is enough - relax the rules and let clubs meet

Cones laid out in Rotorua Central Mall to promote social distancing at level 2. Photo / Andrew Warner

OPINION

Enough is enough - the number of people who have died or are dying from Covid in Rotorua is zero, we have no cases here and some of us are sick of being inactive.

Dozens of elderly people like myself are stuck in a rut of boredom.

Many elderly folk belong to the clubs I belong to. We can't meet because of the two-metre rule yet we can sit together in cafes and walk side-by-side in supermarkets etc.

Many of these people are alone, living in empty houses with nothing but the internet and TV. They need company.

The meet-ups every few days are life-giving, chances to communicate in person.

We all know each other, we meet now and then for coffee but it is not enough. We need the community - what harm could it do to open up these meeting places and do away with the two-metre rule that, in my view, benefits no one?

Jim Adams
Rotorua

Reform not wanted

In my view, centralisation of Three Waters will lift local costs and reduce local control.

Listen to the community. I believe farmers do not want Three Waters Reform, and the tourism sector - which at present does not exist - cannot afford commercial water rates.

In my opinion, homeowners do not want water meters and any future skyrocketing water charges.

Listen to the other mayors who are against Three Waters Reform.

The council would be handing over water assets that have been hard paid-for by Rotorua residents for, in my view, a debt level which will be even harder to pay back.

Mark Gould
Rotorua

Water reforms too much

It's obvious now, in my opinion, that the Government has no intention of allowing councils to opt out of its Three Waters takeover.

The Government has demonstrated its ability to swiftly carry out decisions while taking no prisoners.

In terms of the Tauranga City Council commission, the Government put together a very accomplished team, demonstrating to the rest of New Zealand that councils should get back to basics and look after the infrastructure of the cities.

This, however, is too much.

We, in Tauranga, have delicious water, and while our stormwater and sewerage systems may be nearing capacity - that's the limit they were designed to - they are able to cope for the foreseeable future as long as we don't open up too much more land for subdivision.

We certainly don't need a further layer of bureaucracy to the existing systems.

Dan Russell
Tauranga

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