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The Plaza is the best
I enjoy the east Auckland Times newspaper, when I can get hold of one when visiting Pakuranga Plaza.
I’m not on Facebook or any other social media, so I was not up with the play regarding comments and opinions on Pakuranga Plaza.
On opening your November 29 issue, I was horrified to read that apparently some people have labelled Pakuranga Plaza the “worst” mall in Auckland.
What? I very much enjoy the Pakuranga Plaza, ever since I discovered it several years ago.
It is, for me, the best mall in Auckland.
As your correspondent Ali writes: “Pakuranga Plaza punches well above its weight”, with Bargain Chemist, Post Shop, library, Hollywood Cafe, Woolworths, The Warehouse, Porterhouse Grill, Citizens Advice Bureau, Plunket, Book Barn, two-dollar shops, Panda Mart, night markets – where else do you get all these services in one relatively small space?
I can do all my shopping and errands very enjoyably within one small space, by going to Pakuranga Plaza.
I much prefer Pakuranga Plaza, compared to the likes of Botany and Sylvia Park, precisely because it’s not a huge conglomeration of shops of the sort which I don’t want or need.
Hence, I do not get disoriented or have to walk long distances to do what I want to do there.
If Pakuranga Plaza was to disappear, I would consider it a terrible shame, and certainly a big disappointment for those individuals such as Ali and myself who appreciate and enjoy its practicality and charms.
- Jennifer Birch, Ellerslie
Proud to march in parade
I read PJ Taylor’s article ‘Countdown to biggest parade’ (Times, November 29).
It was a comprehensive description of what we can expect to enjoy in this year’s Howick Santa Parade [2024].
Phil told us to expect the biggest and best-ever parade, and that’s what we got on December 8.
It was so good that even the fickle weather played its part – a beautiful day.
Even as an associate member of the Howick RSA, I had the honour of being able to join in the procession.
A small but intrepid group of men and ladies, we were smartly led by our RSA president Barry Dreyer.
When the parade ended, I suggested we have a photo of our group, and fortunately Jim Donald was in the area, so we engaged his services to take it.
You may know Jim well for all the many activities he’s been involved in for Howick over the years, including as our town crier.
I now join all those who appreciate the massive efforts put in by those who created the biggest Howick Santa Parade yet.
- Terry Donovan, Howick
Stop net fishing
I appreciated the piece on the poor dolphin finally being freed from the fishing net (Times Online, January 10).
But I just wished to see mention of why this dolphin was entangled in the first place – our eating of sea life.
All this terrible “by-catch” would never happen if we stopped putting fishing nets in the waters in the first place.
Fish and crustaceans aren’t even good for our health anymore as the animals are so full of lead, mercury, thallium, cadmium, PCBs, PCDDs.
And I understand the jobs involved in fishing but countries across the world have thriving kelp and seaweed industries and these farms could provide jobs for decades to come as they are sustainable, humane and environmentally friendly.
We need to change the way we eat. Our future and the future of the other living beings we share this planet with depends on it.
- Sara Crane, Toronto, Canada
