Check out a few of the latest comments from our socials below. Want more? Dive into the conversation at www.facebook.com/timesonlinenz.
CONGESTION BRINGS BOTANY TRAFFIC TO STANDSTILL (Times), September 6:
Michelle Morley
This is standard Saturday traffic.
Camille Davenport
Bad weather and everyone going to the mall!
Cora Russell-Murphy
They were testing the fire hydrant access across the road from Lotus Supermarket so it was down to one lane heading towards Cascades [Road].
Megan Singleton McHattie
It’s a water leak. Merging traffic into one lane going towards Howick on Botany Road.
Erin Cook
And yet still more housing crammed into the area to make traffic even worse.
Paula Ching
It was down to one lane from Botany heading towards the golf course. Diabolical. Not a great day to head out.
Coll Rigby
But let’s intensify this area and put 3 plus 3 storey houses everywhere and build 6-15 storey homes along main transport routes!
CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR PITCH TO VOTERS AND ASK: “WHERE IS THE MAYOR?” (Times, September 4):
Billy David Davis
I attended this meeting and supported councillor Maurice Williamson speaking against the Auckland Council approving more radical intensive housing in our local area.
Coll Rigby
East Auckland already has a population (170,000) bigger than either Tauranga or Hamilton, but no public hospital, no direct rail to Howick or Botany, the busiest road in NZ with 40k cars/day and schools bursting at the seams. There is inadequate parking for the ferry and at Panmure Station. That three-storey homes are already being thrown up all over east Auckland with no/inadequate parking is bad enough, but the Government is now proposing to add to the issues with 6-15 storey apartments. Write to your councillors and MPs and tell them how ridiculous this is. You only have until early October to tell them what you think.
HEALTH MINISTER SIMEON BROWN CRITICISES STRIKING NURSES (Times), September 2:
Pragna Patel
People think that National will manage the economy and that’s why they vote National, but we will have another term of eroded health and education service if we vote National. Sure, there are problems with the way Labour have run things in the past, but it’s bigger picture NZ needs to see. Main thing is get out and vote.
Joanne Swaine
It’s not a great way to win people over Mr Brown you are my electorate MP and your underfunding of mental health means my referral has gone unnoticed for months. I’m told only reason I’m still waiting is due to lack of funds and that’s on you.
Anna Louise
I cannot believe how petty and immature the printed message on the electorate office window was! To get staff to spend their time printing off a passive aggressive message about waitlist times is a joke. The “leadership” quality in New Zealand right now is an embarrassment. But will voters in the Pakūranga electorate continue to vote for this? They sure will.
Ronwyn Allen
Just give them enough staff to provide a timely service, pay them a decent equal wage, and fix up the hospital so the patients will come out cured, not with added medical problems.
Garry Bond
Meanwhile you are publicising the fact that you have restored something you took away only a year or so ago from the Whakatāne Hospital. Political hypocrisy at its finest you plonked.
