Letters: Electric ferry plan proves Auckland Transport has lost the plot; what’s really wrong with public schools

An artist's impression of a proposed electric ferry charging building on Queens Wharf in central Auckland. Image / Auckland Council

Letters to the Editor

Ferry plan shows AT has lost the plot

The article on the $30 million building for charging electric ferries, and the $145m committed to electric ferries (NZ Herald, November 26), shows that Auckland Transport has lost the plot.

AT is supposed to be an engineering-led organisation that aims to get “the best bang for our buck”. The only justification for electric ferries is that they will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and improve our climate. Our Emissions Trading Scheme values CO2 at $68 per tonne. Can AT tell us what it costs to save a tonne of CO2 using electric ferries? It is hardly likely to be less than the $500 per tonne cost of reducing CO2 using electric cars.

Has AT looked at alternatives? How much money would be saved if, instead of 10 tons of batteries, they simply installed lighter diesel generators in the same ferry to benefit from the 80% reduction in power required by a hydrofoil?

The whole project should be put on hold until AT has calculated the cost per tonne of CO2 saved. If it exceeds $68 per tonne, the whole project should be canned and those who promoted the boondoggle should be fired.

Bryan Leyland, Pt Chevalier.

Two critical lessons

Covid has nothing to do with the low standard of students’ achievement at some of our public schools (NZ Herald, November 25).

Problem one is the lack of specialist teachers in many of our public schools. Teachers who are not totally conversant with the subject area will not be passionate and knowledgeable teachers.

Problem two is the lack of any form of streaming in most of these schools. Educationally successful schools have some degree of streaming; taking off an accelerate class or two at one end, taking off a class or two of less able students at the other end, leaving a range of parallel classes with no outliers.

Lack of streaming is not a fair go for either students or teachers. Not even a qualified, passionate teacher can effectively teach an unstreamed class. Is it any wonder teachers are leaving the profession in droves?

Not only do New Zealanders experience a postcode lottery in healthcare, but there is also a postcode lottery in the education of our young people.

Heather Mackay, Kerikeri.

CBD safety

I commend the Government and police for establishing a 24/7 presence again in Auckland’s CBD (NZ Herald, November 25). I remember visiting Tokyo a few years ago and seeing a policeman literally on every street corner. A coincidence that this also matched a safe, crime-free city? I don’t think so.

I also remember growing up in Whanganui East where the local constable lived in a police house which doubled as a mini station. Constable Abbot knew just about everyone and nipped potential problems in the bud. Perhaps this could be reinstated around our communities to better utilise police resources?

I find it amazing the Opposition is criticising the announcement, citing frontline resources being moved to sit at a desk to field complaints. Isn’t this still the front line and, in any case, won’t the desk be manned by non-sworn staff? At least this Government is honouring its pre-election promises and making things happen.

AJ Dickason, East Tamaki Heights.

Nuclear no-go

If you are going to store radioactive material, surely those living in the vicinity should be consulted? But not so it seems in the Manawatū area (NZ Herald, November 27) and how strange that the Health Ministry stated that the facility was “being kept secret for national security considerations” and yet a neighbour could walk into the local council who told her straight up what it was for. So much for any secret security considerations. Why wasn’t the facility built in a remote location far from where any controversy could ensue? Anything nuclear and New Zealand just don’t go together.

Paul Beck, West Harbour.

Health positives

Health Minister Shane Reti has announced 50 new positions for doctors and more specialist nurses (NZ Herald, November 26) and immediately the whining begins. “People won’t want to come down here, doctors are burnt out, they’re underpaid so we won’t attract people from overseas,” says Association of Salaried Medical Specialists director Sarah Dalton. Does she want us to do nothing? It’s certainly a big ask after Ayesha Verrall’s inept watch, but keep those positive announcements coming, Shane.

Mary Tallon, Hauraki.

CGT won’t fly

The first thing Chris Hipkins did when he replaced Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister was to drop the capital gains tax. He knew it wasn’t a vote winner and he wanted to win the election. The article stating such was in the NZ Herald on July 12, 2023, for the sceptics among us. The whole CGT mantra is a joke. The CGT just won’t fly in any political cycle – the electorate has spoken and does not want it.

John Ford, Napier.