Hello Jim Bunny. I just wanted to congratulate you on your opinion piece in The Weekend Sun newspaper. While many have skirted around the issue of the current negativity that lurks just below the service here in the Tauranga region, and in fact in many regions of New Zealand at the moment, you have not only lifted the lid a ‘squeak', you have ripped it off entirely. The response heading your way will be swift and full of righteous anger, but I am sure you know that and are prepared for it.

Tauranga could be so much more and until we are able to open minds and help people understand that there is a bigger picture to consider and that their own small concerns and selfish agendas have to be put aside to allow grown up conversations and healthy, non-aggressive debate, we will remain in the current ‘rut'. Yes some of these hard decisions will ‘bite' and will cause temporary upheaval and inconvenience but nothing worth doing ever comes without sacrifice and a little bit of short term pain. To share in the decision-making process, with a positive – not blinkered mindset – is the only way forward.

Your opinion will spark outrage but at least it will make people think, which is a good thing, especially for those, like me, who are in that silent majority whose voice is often drowned out by the ‘Naysayers'. Thank you and keep up the good work!

Victoria Allwood, Tauranga City.