Park Rd Reserve. Photo / Andrew Warner
OPINION
It's not a case of asking: When did you last use a reserve? We keep getting told Rotorua is growing fast, so why sell reserves for housing when the population here is growing? Residents fighting to preserve green spaces are not just doing it for themselves or ratepayers, they
are fighting for those who are too young to speak for themselves. People who will need our reserves for more years than we will, to play, relax and have fun. Once they are sold and filled with housing, where will the council find spaces for reserves when they are needed even more? Obviously not in areas where they will be needed. There will be no green spaces left. Keep the reserves - not just for this generation but for the future generations of Rotorua.
Viv Radley
Rotorua
Tax tourism
It is difficult not to notice the new addition to the Redwoods, and very nice it is too. However, this is not the time for the council to be spending money on items that will not immediately improve the quality of life for the city's residents, and it will not do that much to attract more visitors. Yes, we need tourists, however tourists do not add anything to the welfare of the residents, they merely put money in the pockets of the council and the tourist attraction owners. That is why we need a tax on tourism, just a small percentage - eight or 10 per cent would greatly alleviate the strain on rates and the misery thus caused to the ratepayers.
