Free to care
Firstly, I would like to thank the Government and the health team for their leadership during this difficult time. I also think that the guidelines they give to us are very clear and
easy to understand.
My concern is that inadvertently it is the people who are following these guidelines who are suffering the most. People like Brian Tamaki and his followers are punishing those who are willing to make a sacrifice for others. They carry out their actions in the name of freedom but do they have any understanding of what freedom is?
Biblically, freedom is being given the opportunity to do what is right, not doing what we like. With freedom, there is always a corresponding action of care and responsibility. It does not matter if we are in level 2 or level 3 or even level 4, if people refuse to follow the guidelines, all people are at risk of catching this deadly virus. If people claim a Christian ethic, they should always do what is best and right.
Reverend Mark Beale, Wattle Downs.
Reverse the lockdown
We were told on Saturday night and again on Monday that Super Saturday was a great success and Auckland especially turned out in huge numbers right across the city bring the totals to 89 per cent first vaccine and 71 per cent fully vaccinated. Then from the Beehive podium on Monday afternoon, Auckland was dished out a reward of two more weeks in lockdown and told to work harder at following the rules while we wait for some areas of the country to get their vaccine numbers up. Meanwhile, the "boundary" around Auckland remains in place with no indication the Government has any idea of how they will go about removing it.
What should be happening is that those vulnerable, under-vaccinated areas around the country should have boundaries placed around them to protect them until they get their vaccination levels to the Government's unspecified "very high level". Meanwhile double vaccinated Aucklanders should be given back their hard-earned freedoms similar to the rest of New Zealand in level 2 including travel to most of the rest of the country.
Patrick O'Rourke, Sunnynook.
Asset values
It is not altogether surprising the consumer price index (CPI) has finally caught up with the fact that inflation in New Zealand is rampant and has been for some time.
The CPI is good at measuring the price of cabbages but makes no attempt to measure movements in asset prices.
Robin Hood and his merry men (aka Adrian Orr and the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee) have been merrily "robbin" income from trading bank term depositors over the past few years, by steadily reducing the official cash rate (OCR) in response to a perceived low inflation environment. Such interest income, which would normally accrue to depositors has then (via the trading banks) formed the basis of a "subsidy" to borrowers, who have been encouraged/able to borrow funds at minimal interest rates, the justification being that this will stimulate the economy.
An unintended consequence of this strategy has been an unbridled escalation in asset prices (particularly housing and shares) and there is current concern that some overcommitted borrowers may face hardship when interest rates rise.
A (belated) solution would be for the OCR to be replaced by a hybrid measure that appropriately weights the CPI and an asset price index that measures movements in asset prices.
John Olesen, St Heliers.
Police role
Are New Zealand Police still crimefighters? Is it now the role of the police to observe and monitor crime, while recording it for statistical and insurance purposes?
People brazenly breaking the law in full view of the public and police must be arrested and brought to account.
If not, citizens are entitled to ask themselves, why should I follow the law, when there are no consequences if I do not?
Cheryl Cutfield, Remuera.
Windows closed
Microsoft touted its Windows 10 as, "The last operating system you'll ever need," when it was introduced at end-July 2015. Now they're introducing Windows 11, announcing that they'll stop supporting Windows 10 in a few years. Lack of support means no more security updates, a necessity. Upgrades to Windows 11 are free as long as a downloadable Microsoft program finds your PC eligible.
In my family, six out of seven PCs fail Microsoft's upgrade test due to slightly older chipsets. Worldwide, maybe more than half of an estimated 3 billion PCs might fail Microsoft's test because their chipsets are somewhat older and not replaceable. This will mean a huge cost to consumers and the environment.
The US and EU (hopefully joined by our Commerce Commission) are currently examining the monopoly behaviour of the tech giants. So far, it looks like they're leaning toward regulating rather than breaking up the behemoths. If so, they could well start by requiring Microsoft to make the tweaks required to Windows 11 to allow its use with older chipsets. This would hugely benefit consumers and the environment.
Robert Myers, Auckland Central.
Vaccine in context
The anti-vax and the vaccine-hesitant do not like the idea of foreign substances injected into their bodies. I can understand that but I only hope they never get cancer.
I have, over four decades, had five cancer episodes, with four different varieties of the disease – Hodgkin's disease (twice), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bowel cancer and melanoma. Thank you New Zealand taxpayers, I am in great shape and I won't have anyone tell me our health system is broken.
I have had to endure treatment with some highly toxic chemicals. Therapies that kill every fast-growing cell in your body. Your hair, your skin, the lining of your mouth and gastrointestinal tract for instance. And, hopefully, the cancer cells.
My message to those worried about a shot that is relatively benign: pray you never have to put up with multiple cycles of chemotherapy.
Go get the jab. It's a doddle by comparison.
Of course, if you ever do get the Big C, you could refuse treatment. That, I can promise you, will not end well. But it will end.
David Morris, Hillsborough.
Trust is earned
Damien Venuto (NZ Herald, October 18) says the Government doesn't trust business enough.
Trust is something that is earned by current and past behaviour.
Business in New Zealand has behaved appallingly towards government since 2018 with tantrums and grizzling even in a near death-free environment with a greater than 2014 "rock star" economy.
Mark Nixon, Remuera.
Punished for testing
Solving unlinked cases could improve once vaccinated citizens who test positive for Covid-19 have an option to isolate at home.
In the face of minor symptoms, there is currently very little incentive to take a Covid test when a positive result could involve being mandatorily placed in a confined room at some unfamiliar location.
Chris Chrystall, Epsom.
Workplace safety
There has been much agonising by employers over the issue of mandating vaccination for their staff. One simple solution is to treat the matter as a health and safety issue under existing H&S legislation.
Just as an employer is required to safeguard themselves, their staff, their customers and the public from a dangerous piece of machinery, they should also provide the same safeguards from a dangerous, i.e. un-vaccinated, employee.
The standard hierarchy for dealing with risk could apply. Eliminate the risk, if that is not possible, isolate the risk, and if that is not possible, minimise the risk. A clearly documented risk assessment for each employee should satisfy all legal requirements.
Neal Henderson, Bucklands Beach.
Restore St James
I applaud your correspondent Jeff Hayward's (NZ Herald, October 16) idea of using America's Cup money to fund the restoration of the St James Theatre.
The Cup delivers dubious benefits to Auckland - especially if Team NZ is based overseas. An asset such as the St James could give businesses and tradespeople a real boost next year and the renovated theatre would be around through this and the next century.
What's to lose?
Alan Jermaine, Northcote.
Speech bubbles
Many people don't seem to read to the end of the sentence regarding level 3, point 1 rules. Because it invariably starts with 10, that's all they hear.
It would be helpful if those outlining the rules focused on the message that two bubbles meeting - with a maximum of 10; rather than 10 people meeting - up to two households. Messaging 101.
Also, tradespeople/ installers get your signs out. If you're not vaxxed, you're not coming inside my house.
Sam Cunningham, Henderson.
Short & sweet
On MIQ
Surely it would be best to keep those with Covid in MIQ and allow those coming in from overseas - free of Covid and double-vaccinated - to isolate at home. Danna Glendining, Taupō.
On lockdown
Why are those who are vaccinated being held captive by those who aren't? Melanie Whittaker, North Shore.
Business, the freedom to live normal lives and mental well-being must be prioritised over the selfish. They have the right to stay home. Fiona McAllister, Mt Maunganui.
When can we have a grand picnic for all of us with "two jabs"? We won't need masks or distancing. P. Skipworth, Auckland Central.
If 2021 were an election year, would continuing the level 3 lockdown in Auckland still be considered so important by the governing Labour Party? Neil Christensen, Pukekohe.
On vaccine
The reprehensible dropping of early vaccine availability is killing our will in Auckland and has already decimated businesses. David Jones, Parnell.
On Afghans
Why does it take three years to process an urgent visa application? It is disgraceful to leave Afghan refugees in danger while our bureaucrats shuffle papers around. Helen Gillespie, Hauraki.
The Premium Debate
It is time the Government sent all new arrivals and those returning to quarantine in the South Island so that those of us in Auckland who have no say about quarantine in our city and have had to give up so much freedom can have a break. I'm sure Jim Boult would love to give Aucklanders a bit of help by allowing Queenstown to open its hotels for MIQ. Brendan F.
The Government has been beating around the bush for a long time. I bet if they guarantee that there will be no further lockdowns if all remaining get vaccinated, the majority of the reluctant people will get vaccinated. The issue is there are no clear directions as such from the Government. Emenuwal C.
Why would you lockdown 89 per cent of Auckland because 11 per cent won't do the right thing for their community? Open up MIQ to fully vaccinated and use the space to lock down 11 per cent of unvaccinated Aucklanders. The Government is killing business that employs the team of five million that keeps funding this debacle. Today, a loyal Kiwi and employer of 30 staff wants to leave this country. Bruce T.
Ardern can't open up until the vaccination certificate app is ready. Basically, we are waiting for some developers to finish off the application. Probably all working from home - eight-hour days with a swim at lunchtime and afternoon and morning walks. Matthew W.
It's inhumane that people cannot go to a hairdresser to get their hair cut right now in Auckland. I'm starting to look like a member of a 60s pop band. I really feel for the hairdressers who cannot open right now in Auckland. Two more weeks. Fingers crossed. Francis W.
It's like those not wearing life jackets on boats... those not jabbed as yet will never get jabbed. Time to move on. Those businesses suffering now have suffered enough for those who don't and won't change. Peter B.