Letters to the editor: Whanganui is a town with real heart

John and Miranda Milnes have been reminded that Whanganui is a town with heart. Photo / File

A town with real heart

Thursday, February 11, will be a hard date to forget. That day was the day our house burnt down almost completely, but thanks to the fire service doing a great job they prevented two bedrooms from flames.

Although there was water and smoke damage, some things were able to be rescued, some clothes and many photos although the photos needed separating and drying.

Some were a bit blackened around the edges but the images still had many memories and going through them was quite therapeutic.

While the event and the aftermath are still quite distressing, Miranda and I have been overwhelmed by the support and caring from our Whanganui community.

From our "family" at Delhi village, the Whanganui River Market community and so many from Whanganui and beyond. Miranda and I want to thank you all for your support through an event that we could have done without.

The fire service has been really great - in their dealings with us I could often feel that they were very aware of the times where they had to deal with situations which weren't just property that was lost.

Certainly, it reminded us that even if you are prepared - we had a fire extinguisher and a fire hose re-purposed from the old Jubilee hospital - [it can be] too little too late.

As they say, every cloud has a silver lining, and the silver lining for us was that it reminded us that we live in a town that has real heart.

Thanks again, Whanganui, for your support and caring.

JOHN and MIRANDA MILNES
Aramoho

Ensure they insure

The article in the Chronicle featuring the AA's remarks about our roads and age of cars is significant (Taking toll, Nation, April 7).

To me it is very obvious how we fix this problem. We are one of the only developed countries in the world that does not have compulsory third-party insurance.

Third-party insurance means it is too expensive for bad cars and for bad drivers to own and drive a car.

And, after all, driving is a privilege not a right. It is time that our Government woke up and smelled the roses about this.

It just amazes me as I drive around and see the number of young drivers in very fast and powerful cars on our roads.

If they had to have third-party insurance, they would not be able to afford to drive these souped-up vehicles.

It is not fair that we who are responsible drivers insure our vehicles but the bad drivers in the old heaps do not.

KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
Wanganui East

OKay, SB

Our council has been very transparent, livestreaming many of its meetings. This gives Whanganui people the chance to easily listen in on contentious and important issues - to become informed.

I would imagine it wouldn't take long for many people to be turned off by this experience with the excessive use of acronyms.

So my request to councillors and council staff is to keep your LTPs, KPIs, NZTAs, SOIs, NZICPAs, WDCHLs, CCCs & ROIs to a minimum or risk losing the participation of the public.

STEVE BARON
Whanganui

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