Every day I read about the concerns about Tauranga CBD 'dying”. No wonder.
I have never ever seen a city less welcoming than Tauranga. No matter which direction you come from, be it Te Puke, Rotorua, Hamilton or Auckland, there is not one single sign of welcome. What is hard or expensive about 'Welcome to Tauranga, City of Plenty”?
Our big roundabouts from each direction could be made much more attractive, especially Elizabeth Street. I would love to take to all that old shrubbery with a chainsaw.
When the flag was erected I got mildly excited (no point in getting your hopes up). There was the opportunity to beautify the area. But no, what we got was ugly, half dead looking grassy stuff.
I would like to challenge our many talented landscape gardeners to 'take on” the big roundabouts. It could be an advertising project for their own benefit.
Why would anyone plant a Kauri tree in the middle of a roundabout? (The summit, Waihi Road – it didn't last long). And why hide our beautiful estuary with large trees? Tauranga is a depressing looking city to arrive in. I'm sorry – the hanging baskets look nice.
Please, no more native planting. The place for natives is in the bush. Mostly, they are boring and unattractive. Cheap obviously.
Tauranga has become an 'older persons” city with no new initiatives or they are abruptly quashed.
I know comparisons are odious, but I can't help comparing Tauranga to Hamilton and Rotorua. Most of the year the Rotorua CBD is a riot of colour and how Hamilton manages to finance the miles and miles of riverside beautification amazes me. The Hamilton lake is always so beautiful and what an incredible entrance to their city with the fantastic sculptures. They must employ an army of workers to keep it all so nice. Where do the funds come from?
Why can't Tauranga endeavor to do something similar? Why are we so in debt?
Every little tin pot town in New Zealand has a museum they are proud of. Pity we can't afford one aye. So we will keep paying the storage fees.
I am full of admiration for the people of Tauranga who get out there in their gumboots and keep the estuary clear of mangroves and also the people who planted masses of trees along Route P. I would love to be able to join them. What would those areas be like without their hard work?

M Walmsley, Tauranga.