Freedom campers
I agree with Gary Stewart (Letters - "Freedom camping" April 5) that a few bad freedom campers give the majority of respectful visitors to New Zealand a bad name.
It astounds me that people can use our country as a toilet, when, in the recent cases shown, those people could walk a few steps and use publicly available toilets.
A lot is being done, including more facilities and better educating visitors on what is, and isn't acceptable.
We are currently working with local councils on further initiatives.
PAULA BENNETT, Minister for Tourism
Satanists do good
Put me down as being in support of the Satanists' action featured in the Chronicle ("Reverend blesses 'Satanic' move", March 27).
This group has begun practical moves to help the disadvantaged by providing warm clothing for those in homeless shelters and for poor children. I add that I am equally thankful for the charity of Christian organisations.
There is a Bible story that revealed how the good people could be identified from the charlatans who purported to follow doctrine but didn't do anything charitable. God tells us the good ones are identified by the results of what they do. Now isn't that interesting.
My thanks to Rev Frank Ritchie who acknowledged his religion was poles apart from the Satanists, yet gave his support for the work they were doing.
The reverend has, like me, read his Bible and understood its stated instructions to put mindful effort into charitable works.
Contrast Mr Ritchie's kind, Christian attitude with the critical - in my opinion, not much short of spiteful - comments from a Family First spokesman about the charitable work of the Satanists.
I suggest Family First begins looking for a Bible-aware, pragmatic new spokesman who is less mean-spirited.
Blessed be the doers of true good in the world. Never mind how they call themselves - for "... by their fruits you will know them".
Better watch it, Satanists, you could end up in Heaven. See you there one day. - Edited
STAN HOOD, Whanganui
Face the facts
Is it "fake news" or could it be a stretching of information to make a bad situation look good.
Facts from the NZ Statistics:
Whanganui commercial bed nights (number of people in beds provided by accommodation providers like hotels, motels etc): 2014 - 24,224; 2015 - 21,775; 2016 - 20,900. That equals a steady decline.
Yet I'm amazed to read in the Chronicle that Whanganui and Partners reports a massive rise of 13,000 more people visiting Whanganui in December 2016 compared to last year.
Presumably these extra visitors are not staying in commercial accommodation. Lyn Cheyne, from Whanganui and Partners, attributes the 13,000 extra visitors to people staying in motorhomes, with family or friends or Airbnb. These figures are calculated by a new measurement tool using "anonymous cellphone activity". Are you kidding me?
We all wish these growth figures were true. However, the facts are Whanganui has had no commercial bed night growth for eight months, we are the second-worst performing region in New Zealand for the past 12 months and have the second-lowest annual bed night figures out of 32 regional tourist organisations.
Presumably every other tourist region is getting growth in motorhomes and Airbnb, yet all bar us and one other region also have commercial accommodation growth.
Accommodation occupancy is up by 0.9 per cent over the past 12 months, however this is offset by the large loss of accommodation beds, down 7 per cent for the year.
During the past five years we have had closures of at least four motels and cutbacks in capacity of others - a worry in that we, as a city, are more restricted now in how many visitors we can accommodate for major events.
We have a major problem attracting and keeping visitors in our lovely region. Could there be an ongoing trend of denial that the strategies of council for years have been an utter failure.
We will never turn that around until we face up to some honesty
DAVE HILL, Whanganui
Smacking law
Despite having almost 10 years to prove the doubters wrong, the smacking law has failed to convince the country of its benefits.
In fact, the law has maintained its high level of opposition but, significantly, a high level of New Zealanders say they would flout the law, despite the possible consequences.
This proves the rejection by ordinary New Zealanders of this controversial and flawed law.
If it had any merit, it would have proved itself. Instead it has threatened and undermined good parents.
An analysis of the law in 2014 by public law specialists Chen Palmer said statements by politicians that the law does not criminalise "good parents" for lightly smacking their children were inconsistent with the legal effect of section 59.
A report last year found not a single social indicator relating to the abuse of children had shown significant or sustained improvement since the passing of the law.
If this is "a law to be proud of" (Chronicle editorial; April 1), the politicians must be doing a horrendous job.
BOB McCROSKIE, National director, Family First