TRM blogs have often promoted the many social advantages of living in smaller towns like Turangi. They certainly outweigh any disadvantages experienced in larger towns.

i.e. Turangi does not miss having no stress from drive-by shootings and ram raids. It does not mind being known as a quaint quiet boring old-fashioned place caught in a 1970s time warp enjoying a much slower lifestyle pace about fifty years behind other big cities.

The evidence is everywhere – look at the peak hour traffic below at the motel entrance from Piri Road. Most drivers are happy to respond to traffic hold-ups like that, to lower their blood pressure, to relax, and enjoy their surroundings.

Amongst the benefits proudly claimed is ample FREE parking availability in the town centre with a total lack of any traffic congestion queues as there are only two roundabouts and no traffic lights! Below is a typical traffic jam that tourists more likely have to endure, heading towards the motel on Taupahi Road.

But now, sadly, we regret to report one of the worst signs of the mad mad world has reached Turangi in the form of shiny new traffic lights. You would never imagine the location where traffic lights have been installed. Other towns usually place them at major intersections to control traffic flows and for public safety, but not in Turangi…

To soften the social impact they have been strategically located where tourists will never have to suffer the inevitable delays and queues. Even local residents may not find them unless they take a trip to the tip! Thank you to Toe-paw Council – the recycling facility has been almost completely modernised with the most ridiculous set of traffic lights ever seen.

It has also intensified the laid-back life-style blood pressure as a visit now takes at least two minutes longer to provide for traffic congestion. But it might raise the morale of locals to experience such frustration, to realise what the rest of the world has to suffer every day on almost every corner, to appreciate how lucky we are.

Of course, Toe-paw’s super modern high-tech amenities now have to be paid for. TRM’s full load of prunings and garden compost (thoroughly inspected as flax and cabbage trees are banned) used to cost $5. Now it has increased by a whopping 20% to $6. I think we can live with that.