We have a Cuban Embassy in Wellington - why can’t we talk to them?
Although the world has ostracised Cuba, it has one of the best education systems in the world. They have prioritised their health and wellbeing over infrastructure. Across the past generations they have trained many hundreds of thousands of people to become doctors around the world.
Back home in Aotearoa, it seems that a million dollars worth of roadworks is better than the health and wellbeing of our people.
It is time to get some common sense - it’s not worth having roads if people are dying and can’t get treatment.
So maybe it is time to relook at where the Government is putting OUR money, because generally people don’t mind putting money into health.
We must come together in Parliament and talk together about what our real priorities are in Aotearoa.
For now we have the pharmacists calling for help - they are also underfunded, like the doctors, the nurses, and the caregivers.
Pauline E. Tangiora
Safer access appreciated
Thank you to the council for fixing the railway crossing from Read’s Quay to the walkway.
On behalf of walkers and especially those on walking frames, on mobility scooters, those pushing prams and bike riders - the repairs make it safer and a pleasure to access the walkway.
Robyn Chaffey
Ferries friction
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon planned to not talk about the ferry cancellation when visiting South Korea. They are our sixth largest trading partner and significant to our economy. The cancellation was so significant to Hyundai that the Korean stock exchange was notified.
Our Government was warned of the risks before it cancelled the $551 million fixed price contract and was willing to harm our international reputation as a fair and reliable dealer. It is very likely we will pay more than $551m in break fees and have nothing to show for it. It is also possible that we will pay an additional and substantial amount on top for second-hand ferries.
Most of the costs for the ferries would have been on port infrastructure which hadn’t actually been finalised at the time of the ferry cancellation.
It’s hard to imagine that Luxon will be able to avoid talking about this while in South Korea.
From a Stuff report this week: “When Cabinet was considering axing the deal, official documents show that MFAT reminded the Government that South Korea is New Zealand’s 6th largest trading partner and warned that it is a source of potential international investment, expertise and collaboration”.
We have a careless and wasteful Government. Both international goodwill and taxpayer funds will be adversely affected by this debacle.
Mary-Ann de Kort
Better spent on SH2
A four-track road from Napier to Hastings that will save 10 minutes travelling time ... or new highway improvements from Gisborne to Napier that are 20 years overdue?
A whole community versus some petrol heads in Parliament - what a sad way to blow a hundred million dollars.
Ian Gaskin, Waikaremoana
Thinking time
Re: Minimal impact, September 3 letter.
In that extra minute you have, as you carefully (I am sure) make your way along Grey Street, think:
1. Was it worth a $1 million? How much extra are the cameras and monitoring expenses?
2. What has it achieved?
3. Riding a bike off Childers Road, through the roundabout and into Grey St - how safe is it really?
4. If you are cycling from the beach end, how unsafe is the jump across Grey St to join the two-way cycle path?
5. Where else in town could I push for this idea to be replicated? (One councillor has already said this is only a start.)
5. If cycle safety is a concern, where are the bike parks and a safe access to them?
G Webb
