Lesley Haddon writes (Letters, September 4) that our council needs "a large portion of business acumen and a dash of empathy" to balance the needs of our citizens.
In my opinion, most will disagree.
It is the duty of the council to first and foremost respond to the needs of its citizens, and that requires empathy, not business acumen.
For example, the council should not need a business case to respond to our demands of, say, a new footpath, more pensioner housing, a new playing field somewhere and the maintenance of our gardens, and clean water.
Any council candidate who thinks that a "dash" of empathy will do, should be sent to political oblivion via the polls.
John Pakes
Ngongotaha
Impossible to follow
While we all make an effort in our pronunciation of te reo, I was horrified while in a visitor's car and they turned on the GPS to find a street.
The instructions to find any street with a Māori name were impossible to understand.
Surely the people who sell these implements in New Zealand through all the major stores could respect one of our languages and pronounce correctly.
(Abridged)
Alf Hoyle
Lynmore
The Rotorua Daily Post welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following:
• Letters should not exceed 250 words.
• They should be opinion based on facts or current events.
• If possible, please email.
• No noms-de-plume.
• Letters will be published with names and suburb/city.
• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only.
• Local letter writers given preference.
• Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged.
• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor's discretion.
• The Editor's decision on publication is final.
Email to editor@dailypost.co.nz or write to the Editor, PO Box 1442, Rotorua 3040.