Letters: Why Mayor Wayne Brown’s idea of a bridge from Meola Reef is worth investigating
Mayor’s bridge idea worth investigating
Mayor Wayne Brown’s continuing push for a new harbour crossing from Meola Reef deserves serious investigation.
The problem with any crossing from the city to the Shore emerging to use SH1 to the north is immediate overload unless taken well north before merging.
Those of us who drove around the Shore before the existing bridge, completed in 1959 at a cost of £7.5 million (around $250m in today’s money), are aware of how congestion quickly accelerated as suburbs filled in and roading demand rocketed. We went from no traffic lights (bliss!) to what seemed like lights around every corner in a few short years. The motorway filled just as quickly.
A suggestion explored since the early days was to take a Meola Reef crossing to the Kauri Pt vicinity. It has to be done, and soon, with the new northern motorway from Kauri Pt going straight northwards through Birkdale, eventually merging with SH1 perhaps in the Dairy Flat area. Exits and branches east and west will be clear on closer study.
This would require Public Works Act purchases of some scale but, I contend, would have a far better outcome, and would be cheaper than other proposals.
It needs a mindset that sees long-term cost-benefit in containing congestion by spreading it away from existing routes.
Roger Blackbun, Greenhithe.
Act of ageism
People have always felt free to criticise politicians, especially from a party they don’t support. However, I felt it was a particularly low blow to lump Winston Peters in with Donald Trump as your correspondents Phil and Frankie Letford did in their letter, Risks of ageing leaders (February 4).
Ageism is an insidious problem, and it’s a type of discrimination usually against the elderly.
As we have seen in recent years, politicians, including prime ministers, of any age can make very unpopular decisions, but to hone in on Peters in this derogatory manner was uncalled for.
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
Just like Muldoon
Phil and Frankie Letford are partly right in their letter about age defining the attitudes of Winston Peters and Donald Trump. I’m an 82-year-old pensioner and I loathe the politics of both of them!
Peters is more than a closet Trump sympathiser. He is an unreconstructed Muldoonist! Have you seen how he snaps at journalists who ask him a perfectly civil question? That is classic Sir Rob Muldoon. Muldoon’s attitudes live today through Peters’ copycat, belligerent behaviour!
John Watkins, Auckland.
Offering opinions
There is nothing wrong with having an opinion providing one accepts that others are entitled to that medium. Therefore, one is sure Phil and Frankie Letford won’t mind this epistle.
As one grows older, it is becoming more apparent that some baby boomers know it all or are of that opinion.
When one thinks about the fact that Trump and Peters hold their current positions by popular vote, one wonders who has actually lost their marbles.
Just because an older person thinks about things before offering an opinion, it is not a sign of dementia. There was a time when life lived was worth a moment’s consideration, so perhaps listening rather than lecturing would be a respectful gesture in future.
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Older and wiser
The letter from the Letfords questions whether older leaders, like Winston, suffer from the “inevitability of brain decline”.
Me, I like the idea of “the wisdom of age.”
Some are just born silly.
Paul Grainger, St Albans.
Sad day for staff
Having been made redundant several times in my working life, I feel for all those affected by the redundancies announced by The Warehouse.
For some time, the retailer seems to be a little confused with its offerings – is it a homewares store, a grocery store, a stationery/craft store or a clothing retailer?
Regarding the grocery aspect, to be a success in that arena, you need a huge commitment financially; it’s no good being half-hearted.
I shop at The Warehouse occasionally and my main gripe would be that it can be hard trying to find the items I wish to buy – a certain amount of tenacity is required while wandering the aisles.
On the plus side, the staff, I find, are pleasant and helpful, and a huge shout out to their online shopping offering. Some items I buy (knitting yarn) often have very little stock in store, so I buy a quantity online, which they source from various locations.
Their communication is excellent, and the website is easy to use. I can’t fault them online.
Interestingly, the other retailer that does online well is KMart. Both would be considered at the budget end of retailing but online shopping is something they both do well. Others (I’m talking about another national retail chain here), could learn from them in this area and up their game.
J.A. Wallis, Blockhouse Bay.
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