I frequently hear the proposition that in recent times the City of Tauranga has become more sophisticated and bears comparison with Queensland's Gold Coast in Australia, when it comes to providing attractions that can resonate with visitors from other countries – and other regions of New Zealand.

Unfortunately, though the potential exists, the proposition is insupportable.
I can and do vigorously defend the beauty and attraction of the beaches of Mount Maunganui and the Bay of Plenty in general against those located in Queensland, Australia.

But I single out for complaint the ridiculous situation that it is impossible to get a cup of coffee in a Tauranga or Mount Maunganui in a cafe or coffee bar with ambience after 3.30pm.

Closing time for these establishments is nominally 4pm and that is bad enough, but by 3.30pm chairs are stacked on every table and sweeping has commenced.
After an afternoon's shopping, your dream of a civilized coffee after 3.30pm is just a pipe dream.

How quaint this must appear to many tourists.
The response of coffee bar owners when this complaint is voiced to them, is to say 'there isn't the trade” at that time.

Well, how would they know, since they don't test the waters by opening past 3.30pm.
Excuses are easy to come by, but at the end of the day they're stonewalling to defend the status quo.

The vexed questions of noise; and the droughts we have to endure in unseasonable weather are something that also needs addressing.
Maybe we can deal with that another day ?

Bill Climie, Maungatapu.