Opinion: The village that raises our kids
■ I was pondering what to write about this month, for my regular spot in the Beacon. Given it is two
Opinion: Old guys and flower gardens
Barry Rosenberg Women my age who’ve become widowed, and whose kids have moved away, appear to have
Letter: Thinking outside the box and willing to be part of the solution
Judy Turner Dear Sandy Milne, Where have you been the last three years? Waka Eastern Bay Public T
Letter: Thieves
Peter Conway I feel sad for the poor people who get caught stealing from supermarkets when the real
Letter: There is no shame in loneliness
Jessica S Gray Loneliness can be one of the hardest human experiences to acknowledge. It can affec
Opinion: Simplifying local government case not made
Victor Luca Since I first entered local government in 2019, both Labour- and National-led Governmen
Letter: Sour grapes?
Alexander (Sandy) Milne Sour grapes – that’s what I thought as I read former mayor Judy Turner’s st
Letter: Elder health access and living issues under discussion
Peter Minten, Membership secretary Grey Power members are being pressurised by cost-of-living and h
Opinion: Becoming a republic - what are we afraid of?
■ New Zealanders like to think of ourselves as an independent bunch. We’re quite happy telling Austr
Letter: Some sympathy for those addicted to smoking
John Capener I dare say, each of us, like Keith Melville, have had our own journey with tobacco, (B
Letter: Council amalgamation a burning platform?
Rob Probst The Coalition Government set a deadline of 90 days for New Zealand councils to come up w
Opinion: Hukutaia Domain wants you
■ Hukutaia Domain calls for more volunteers to help look after this fascinating place, writes Tanja
Letter: Rushed council mergers threaten local democracy
Philippa Branthwaite Chair Eastern Bay of Plenty branch of NZ Labour Party The coalition government
Opinion: GST on rates - the tax we forgot to question
David Hick Every year, ratepayers open their rates bills and focus on the total at the bottom of th
Letter: Huge cost variance in elderly driver medicals
Alexander (Sandy) Milne A Beacon reader who has been following the correspondence regarding the cos
Letter: Regional Council Eastern BOP by-election
Judy Turner With the fast-approaching by-election for an Eastern Bay seat on our regional council,
Letter: Is this the thin end of the wedge?
Suzanne Williams As this is an area of politics dear to my heart, I was impressed with the letter f
Opinion: Avoid stressful and distracting situations
Keith Melville When enjoying my morning coffee fix at my favourite Strand cafe, I often see three o
Letter: Thoughtful response to racism
Deb Woollett I thank Dr Jessica Sneha Gray for her very thoughtful opinion in Beacon, Wednesday, Ju
Letter: Hands off our conservation estate
Chris Mulcahy The Coalition Government’s Conservation Amendment Bill now before the Environment Sel
Opinion: Have your say – local government reform needs your voice
■ East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick is urging Eastern Bay residents to engage with the Government’s pro
Letter: Bring back the EV feebate - for our lungs, our security, and our power bills
Graeme Weston The Clean Vehicle Discount was scrapped in 2024 as a climate policy and died as one.
Mayor's talk: Matariki blessings
It is the time of Matariki again. The Pleiades constellation is returning to the morning sky, and th
Letter: Search for descendants
Alexander (Sandy) Milne and Arlene Bedford In 2024, the day after Anzac Day, Alexander (Sandy) Miln