I note that Tauranga City rates are about to go up by 15 per cent. I do wonder as to what percentage of the rates take goes to the Regional Council, who are responsible for the empty yellow busses on our streets? I ask this because after being driven along Cameron Road from Barkes Corner to 1st Avenue for my Covid jab we passed eight busses, mainly stationary at bus stops, empty – two were ‘not in service'. The other point of interest was the one cyclist riding on the footpath.

The Regional Council has to pay the drivers and maintain the busses, insurance and fuel etc. Quite a sum, but the majority of the local population do not benefit from the service.

Peter Turner, Pyes Pa.