Keep tenants in loop
I agree that Pakuranga Plaza is a shadow of what it was when I settled here over 20 years ago (Times, September 13).
Back then, every shop was occupied, and you could do most of your everyday shopping there, from groceries to clothing to electrical goods.
However, the decline started long before the Eastern Busway project got going.
Most of the high street names moved out nearly a decade ago.
That said, I think there is a common theme in your recent articles about the pain of the Plaza retailers and the response from Auckland Transport.
That is, the landlord of the Plaza. AT says it’s informing the landlord of upcoming changes, and that it has not been made aware of any complaints.
The retailers are not being kept in the loop it seems.
Surely the onus is on the landlord, who is presumably collecting rents from these units, to keep their tenants informed. Why are they not doing so?
It must be a bit hard for all concerned at the moment. The construction is hugely disruptive, and there seems to be no recourse for landlord or tenant, who must both be making huge losses.
K Hanna, Pakuranga Heights
Worryingly ironic Treaty views
I find it deeply saddening that Parmjeet Parmar holds the views they expressed in their opinion piece titled ‘Uni’s compulsory Treaty courses damage learning experience’ (Times, September 13).
I speak as a pākeha born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, and an alumni of the University of Auckland (1993-1995).
It’s so important for every person studying in my alma mater to understand the place and space they’re learning in.
There’s an ignorance surrounding what Parmjeet said that reinforces the need for such a course that gives every student a foundational context to the “unique educational experience” at University of Auckland, through a course like Waipapa Taumata Rau.
Parmjeet’s fear of “indoctrination” is worryingly ironic, given what we know about our colonial history of assimilation.
How unfortunate that we have someone in such a position of political power in our community, who is unwilling to listen and learn.
And who doesn’t understand or have respect for the tūrangawaewae of our local place, or the cultural importance of our nation’s Māori foundations.
Ngā mihi,
Karen Gibson
