Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has got us so far in the Covid pandemic. Is it time to put our next strategy to the polls? Photo / Robert Kitchen, Pool
The editorial (Weekend Herald, September 11) decides our future is clearcut: "Dividing lines will have to be drawn between vaccinated and unvaccinated, and countries of differing risk levels."
New Zealand is a democracy; the vast majority voted for the health-based Jacinda Ardern philosophy, not Judith Collins'
economy-first approach, now exemplified in the Gladys Berejiklian-run state of NSW.
There is clearcut evidence that if you don't get vaccinated you risk death or possible long Covid harm without hospital assistance. We have one of the weakest, most stressed, hospital systems in the first world. Proposed measures by NSW would not work here, overloading the health system to breaking point.
Jamie Morton's article (NZ Herald, September 11) illustrates Covid's future track is incredibly difficult to predict like, "sailing through uncharted waters", particularly for young ones.
Commonsense says: watch Denmark the UK and NSW as "guinea pigs" try to live with the virus. In a democracy, for something so critical as Covid; surely it requires an early election, if proposals contradict Labour's election manifesto?
Steve Russell, Hillcrest.
Unfair on doctors, nurses
How terrible that the doctors and nurses are having to seek a change in policy on hospital visits. They are trying to keep all the team of five million safe and are being harassed by unruly visitor numbers.
Katherine Swift, Kohimarama.
Banish hospital visitors
Why is anyone allowed to visit hospital?
I was in for a cancer operation in the last lockdown and we were not allowed visitors. I managed to survive.
Thanks to phones, laptops, tablets and other devices, one is not really alone when in hospital. Ward managers are usually able to bring a phone to a patient as well. We in Auckland are facing another week or two of lockdown because selfish people will not admit life isn't always what we want it to be. What are a few days without seeing a loved one?
There should be no visiting and therefore no more spread of Covid.
Diane O'Sullivan, Mt Wellington.
Glasgow a junket too far
What possessed James Shaw and his entourage to think their presence in Glasgow was imperative to put forward New Zealand's support on climate change? I would have hoped our diplomatic team in London, supported by instantaneous communication with New Zealand, would do the job for us. James, if it was not appropriate to travel to Wellington to join Parliament how can you justify a junket like this?
Evelyn Ross, Fairview Heights.
Truancy must be tackled
Education consultant Alwyn Poole highlighted (NZ Herald, September 10) the declining achievement levels for many school pupils, citing truancy as a major factor.
The Ministry of Education, schools and parents have an obligation to ensure pupils attend, yet the average full attendance at decile 1-3 high schools has fallen to an unacceptable 41 per cent. The slide into truancy and underachievement is real and must be arrested.
Woe betide the child in the 1950s who failed to provide an explanatory note for being absent. Times have changed.
P. J. Edmondson, Tauranga.
Tuition awaits on internet
Some "humanities" or "liberal arts" academics bemoan the decline in significance for their subjects at tertiary institutions. Tamsyn Parker's feature on Auckland University chancellor Cecilia Tarrant (Weekend Herald, September 11) does give the impression a university is, and should be, a qualifications factory that pumps out meal tickets.
Fair enough. It's the 21st century. If you want to indulge your passion for Plato, Virginia Woolf or the Wars of the Roses, buy a book. Tuition fees for studying at your place, one internet connection.
Arch Thomson, Mt Wellington.
Click-and-collect books
Under alert level 4 and 3, libraries remain closed. This is hard on older people who use this service regularly.
Kiwis are accustomed to ordering everything on line, so why not books? There could be a click and collect system just like the supermarket or pharmacy. The librarian picks the books from the online orders and the borrower drives up and collects at the door.
Rosemary Balme, Howick.
Auckland hole in dyke
It is difficult to understand why Auckland has not been prioritised for vaccinations.
The strategy is for herd immunisation so that lockdowns can be avoided, and in reality there is no plan B. When Auckland is locked down the rest of the country suffers, so one would think that any measures available would be used to control the virus.
Auckland is the hole in the dyke due to its population and number of MIQ and quarantine facilities. The Government placed these facilities there so it is incumbent on it to do what is not only right for Aucklanders but the rest of the Motu. Experts such as epidemiologists agree that prioritising Auckland is a wise action, so why is it not happening?
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Press and democracy
Your commentator Bruce Cotterill (Weekend Herald, September 11), raises a subject that is fundamental to a successful democracy, Freedom of the Press. Under our weak constitutional checks and balances on Government power, it is something we must guard at all costs.
New Zealand governments enjoy enormous, almost unchecked, power. This is especially so when the governing party, such as this Government, enjoys an absolute majority. Under these circumstances, Freedom of the Press is virtually the only protection the public has against Government abuse of power.
As Cotterill suggests, when a Government spokesperson, be it a minister or the Prime Minister, is asked a penetrating question which they prefer not to answer, they pronounce on anything but the subject question.
As Act leader David Seymour indicated in his riposte to the furore over his suggesting the quickest way to get vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus was by using the Māori code, we are in the hands of a dangerous, unchecked government, with media freedom our only protection.
Vince Ashworth, Morrinsville.
Independent media key
A superb article from Bruce Cotterill, drawing attention to the important issues he raises. And thanks to the Herald for being one of the few media outlets willing to publish such opinions (as he states). People are so susceptible to being influenced by what they read, and not being critical of it, which is why more than ever we need good and independent media, and journalists doing their job.
Denise Dalziel, Westmere.
Blame Collins' performance
Bruce Cotterill (Weekend Herald, September 11) points the finger in the wrong direction when he says an increasingly left-leaning news media unfairly depicts Judith Collins. He should point directly at her for her recent inept performances.
Neil Anderson, Algies Bay.
Scared out of jab
As a vaccinator working at a large vaccination centre and at a GP's, I am saddened at the many particularly young people terrified by the misinformation on social media concerning the Covid vaccination. The ones we see have at least arrived to be vaccinated, but they are so stressed that the experience is difficult for them. Because of anxiety, they often faint, or feel very unwell, which only reinforces negative ideas about the vaccine.
It seems no amount of information will change anti-vax attitudes. Unfortunately, there is another quite large group who were not anti-vax before Covid, but have been so bombarded with misinformation that they are too frightened to get the jab.
I don't think the Government appreciates how big this issue is, and it probably won't become obvious until we have vaccinated everyone who is willing, and find we are not at 80 per cent.
Robin Groombridge, Warkworth.
Bank fees unjustified
Just received an email from a bank stating our credit card fees will be going up from $55 per annum to $70 per annum. That is a 25 per cent plus increase in fees. Not long ago, they also changed their reward structure from one point for every $100 spent to one point for every $120 spent. This at the same time banks are reporting record profits. These increases are totally unjustified given reported profits and the increases represent no added benefit to us as customers. No extra services at all.
Graham Hansen, Howick.
On hospital outbreak
Is it not surprising we have an outbreak at a hospital — it's one of the few places you can visit during level 4. I can't visit family members in their home, but I could if they were in hospital. How unthinkable.
Linda Beck, West Harbour.
On level 2
We feel for you Auckland. We are in prison too but we have an exercise yard, library, communal dining area, visitors, and workshops. You guys are still in solitary confinement. We're all cheering for you.
Glenn Forsyth, Taupō.
On Collins
Good old Judith, again resorting to her usual lowest common denominator repartee, with partner in crime, Whale Oil, egging her on from the sideline. Surely, finishing school should have imbued her with the abilities to choose more salubrious friends and to exercise impeccable manners?
Edith Cullen, Te Kauwhata.
On clever kea
Kudos to Bruce the kea, who is missing the top part of his beak, for displaying the "No8 wire" mentality New Zealanders are known for by using pebbles to preen himself. Brilliant.
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
On Siouxsie's call
Next time I get caught outside without wearing a mask I'll ring my old mate Ashley and get his confirmation that I have not broken any rules.
Neil Hatfull, Warkworth.
Fear isn't a bad thing if it motivates people to do the right things. We can have any view of the Government, but we can't say we were held in fear without knowing what the right thing to do has been. Masks, hand hygiene, social distancing, code scanning, arm's length transactions, testing, vaccinations, caution around frontline people, working differently. We've been trained. While fear of the virus may be a Govt strategy, we have the tools to be effective. We're not totalitarian. Thomas M.
Too much fear been whipped up by this Prime Minister. It seems that is her tool of choice. Maybe it's time to change the message to one of acceptance of what Covid is in a vaccinated world; very different to Covid in the old world. Paul M.
Jacinda Ardern's problem is going to be to convince people to switch from fear of Covid to acceptance. Watch Denmark. It's saying the virus is beaten and is fully opening up. People don't need a Covid pass, testing is ending, it's redesignating Covid as a normal virus.
Ross W.
The Government has made many mistakes, like all governments. But it has made many quick and good decisions, to put New Zealand in an unenviable position. Adam S.
The only real fear is "fear of lost business income". Willing to tolerate others' death and suffering as long as businesses are running. This is why we voted to have a Labour Government in full control during this pandemic. Rick F.
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