Expensive living
Measuring the cost of living is helpful for several reasons. First, it allows a comparison of income nationally and internationally. Secondly, it can gauge a clear picture of incomes against social expectations and quality of life. If necessary, it can also support sound public policy to ensure equitable and
acceptable living standards.
In the former, New Zealand is regularly labelled as "expensive" by international standards (e.g. InterNations relocations 2020). "The average cost of living in New Zealand is not so attractive. In fact, a family of four spends (cost of living) around $6000 to $8000 (US$3600 to US$4800) per month…. expats can expect to spend 50 per cent of their paycheck on rent."
We have a plethora of bleak statistics. An indicative percentage of children living in households with less than 50 per cent of the median equivalised disposable household income before deduction of housing costs is 15 per cent (168,500 children). Most recent statistics indicate the percentage of children living in households experiencing material hardship is around 13 per cent (indicating 151,700 children).
Where is the explicit policy to respond to these realities?
Russell Hoban, Ponsonby.
Liddell word
Before the general election the Prime Minister refused (as was her right) to disclose how she intended to vote on the two referenda.
The voters were left to decide for themselves whether the Prime Minister's silence arose from a lack of confidence in her own convictions or from a fear that disclosure of her intentions would affect the public's confidence in her. She was entitled to take that course but her doing so could not and did not reflect well on her integrity.
The refusal to comment on the nomination of Chris Liddell for Secretary-general of the OECD (before he withdrew) was different. If she were to make any comment she would have been doing so not on her own behalf but on behalf of New Zealand. We were entitled to know whether or not she intended to make such a comment and if so, what that would have been.
Peter Newfield, Takapuna.
Code displays
Use of QR codes would have stayed at the required levels if businesses had left them displayed obviously as they were at the beginning.
Where I live, they are now often tucked away or on only one door, or among stands of advertising.
Our local cafe is the best with one on every door and many small ones on individual tables. Go Millies.
Robyn Tubb, Silverdale.
Overstayer silence
Chinese overstayer of 15 years Fiona Xiao (NZ Herald, January 18) can breathe easy. Her story mirrors that of another Chinese overstayer Amy Xuemei Mao (Herald, May 31, 2019).
My Official information Act request and subsequent complaint to the Ombudsman failed to confirm whether Mao was deported as similarly threatened. The process made it abundantly clear, however, that she had been allowed to remain in New Zealand.
Despite overstaying and placing her story in the media as Xiao has now done, the "privacy" of Mao was deemed more important than New Zealanders knowing how, or indeed if, our immigration law was being applied.
Perhaps Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi or indeed Prime Minister Jacinda Arden can explain why "transparent government" protects illegal overstayers who treat New Zealand law with complete contempt. Perhaps too,15 years on, Immigration NZ can advise whether they believe a Limited Purpose Permit successfully dealt with the identified "risk of Ms Xiao overstaying".
Ross Jamieson, Wellington.
Home to roost
I fully agree with Steve Matheson's letter (NZ Herald, January 12), which calls for a rethink of the premise that aggressive population increase corresponds to a proportionate increase in our national wellbeing.
The immigration policy successive governments have implemented for the past three decades is akin to a Ponzi scheme, or a modern-day Malthusian trap, and their ongoing utter lack of any population policy is coming home to roost.
The rock-star economy, fuelled by net gains of 50,000+ a year (a rate that is double that of Australia's and five times that of the US), is now suffering the hangover, especially in Auckland. Time for an urgent moratorium.
Charlie Haddrell, Greenlane.
