I find myself agreeing strongly with the mechanic on page 10 of The Weekend Sun, May 28 (Tauranga mechanic slams "bullying" NZTA inspectors).

I've run into a similar problem with marine inspectors. I have a RNLI lifeboat that I wanted to use for charity purposes, like supplying Tauranga Food Bank and Homes of Hope, with all running costs my responsibility.

These boats are the safest in the world and designed for rescuing crew off sinking ships in hurricanes.

The inspector came and looked over the vessel and declared I'd changed wheelhouse doors and they weren't safe. I showed him photos from the UK, where the boat was originally stationed, but he refused to accept that and as he wasn't going to budge and I wasn't going to change vessel to suit his whims, I didn't go through with the survey and could only take friends of friends out. The attitude of this inspector was very dictatorial and not nice, plus survey fees can be so high as to make owning a boat unviable.

We need a citizens group to be able to investigate and take unreasonable authorities to task.

John Fairburn, Katikati.