One too many? Joyce Williams, Ōrewa (abridged) Retirement villages – a growth industry with our ageing population – serve a vital need and most do so extremely well. However, too many of these large villages in the one location can be undesirable...... Read More

Rethink waste   In the article on the Dome Valley landfill (MM Feb 3), William Kapea says that the landfill could even be said to fit within Maori cultural values. This may have been so in very early times when Maori,  their Polynesian...... Read More

Black & white (& grey) Joyce Williams ,Ōrewa Our new suburbs are very smart. So orderly, so consistently modern. I congratulate the planners, the architects, the developers and the council for producing so many kilometres, hills and valleys of uniform...... Read More

Hill Street queues I was hoping through the letters to the editor I could promote my book Hill Street Queues. The book follows my true-life experience of marrying my childhood sweetheart, having two children and six grandchildren, all while queuing to...... Read More

Light relief Nigel Thomas and Roy Forster, Red Beach Christmas has come and gone but we cannot let it completely go until saying a few words of praise for the residents of Vista Motu and their magnificent free light display they put on over the festive...... Read More

We asked our Facebook followers if people should have to self-isolate at home for one week after completing managed isolation. Here are some of the responses: Angela Harris I also think managed isolation needs to be longer. Three weeks in managed, one...... Read More

Landfill traffic We note the huge press, police and NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) concern about the extra 12 trucks an hour to and from Northport on State Highway 1, as ships were unloaded and containers transported to Auckland. Police and Worksafe...... Read More

Not cyclist friendly Ron Jackson, Orewa (abridged) I am pleased to see the road safety improvements around Orewa town centre, especially the extension of the 30kph speed limit. One aspect that I am disappointed with is the side island that is being...... Read More

We asked our Facebook followers if Santa should be allowed to enter New Zealand without quarantining this year. Here are some of the responses: Shontelle Kingston He lives somewhere that doesn’t have Covid and he comes to NZ first, since NZ is...... Read More

Clarifying boundaries I have received queries about the Rodney Local Board internal boundary changes (MM Dec 2) . The public can rest assured nothing has changed with the election boundaries. All that has happened is one community group has approached...... Read More