In July it was reported that the NZTA were about to demolish the pedestrian tunnel under the road connecting Owen Place and Bayfair.

There was to be no replacement – too expensive. There was to be an overbridge the locals were assured.

In my experience of the assurances given by the NZTA they were not worth a candle.

The War Memorial Hall at Te Puna, home of indoor bowls, wedding receptions, election polling station etc, etc, was demolished seven years ago with an assurance from NZTA of a replacement.

In September the only progress was a Maori blessing of the foundation stone.

With this in mind I advised the worried folk of Bayfair to keep using the tunnel until a satisfactory replacement was built.

This week I noted a building going up at Te Puna in about the right position for a hall and as I was going to the Mount a couple of days later I checked out the tunnel.

It was still being well used continuously for the half hour I was there walking both ways. I did not notice an overpass being built.

Peter Turmer, Pyes Pa