Here’s to Queenstown — a great experience
WE recently took the opportunity of cheap accommodation to spend a few days in Queenstown, and what a pleasant time we had.
We normally could not be bothered coping with the mad rush, crowds and keeping up appearances, but our experience was great. Busy but not crowded. Good hotel close to town for just $130 per night, fabulous Fergburger for brunch without having to queue up — and they are as good as their reputation.
Loved a jetboat trip on the
Kawarau and Shotover rivers, cycled to Frankton and rewarded ourselves with delicious beer from the brewery.
Great food choices in the numerous restaurants at very reasonable rates.
Enjoyed the ambience of the town which we thought was busy enough.
And, as a bonus, we used our senior citizens privilege Gold Card for a day trip to Arrowtown.
Of course there are many experiences offered that we did not take but are going back in the new year.
Most importantly we never met a grumpy person and bus drivers, restaurant staff, tourist staff, hotel staff and everyone we met were polite, helpful and cheerful. Well done, Queenstown.
Not to forget the decadent treats at the Patagonia ‘‘health’’ shop.
Norman Edwards
Palmerston
Iwirun prisons
MENG Foon’s suggestion that iwi run prisons (ODT, 26.10.20) is an excellent concept and should be given due consideration by the Labour Government, rather than be dismissed by Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis.
Whatever was done in the past, or whatever Labour policies are, they should be able to be reviewed when new ideas come along.
The Mangaroa prison in Hawkes Bay would be an ideal one to evaluate this concept, being on the doorstep of Ngahiwi Tomoana, leader of the Ngati Kahungunu iwi.
With the success of the Rangatahi Courts, this should encourage the iwi in this area to prove a point.
However, there needs to be some caution.
Iwi involvement does not always produce good results, as in the case of Sealord Fisheries (50.1% owned by iwi) who, after 20 years, have been unable to train young Maori to take up fishing as a career and must now still depend on Eastern bloc labour.
Let’s give Mr Foon’s idea due consideration then.
Election night
M. Barra
Cromwell
RNZ’s election night television coverage was available on Freeview terrestrial channel 50 and Face TV on Sky.
It was worth watching.
The captions were clear and easy to follow.
There were even reports from Dunedin with a reporter in various locations.
No ad breaks on RNZ so a nofrills telecast compared with TV1 and all the better for it.
Graeme Clode
St Kilda .................................
BIBLE READING: Rejoice with those who rejoice; and weep with those who weep. — Romans 12:15.