Last year, in the main, the weather was kind, and not one staple fruit or vegetable was short: even through our winter.
2024 was an amazing and giving year for one commodity in particular - an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. Like plants, our growers do not get a holiday during their seasons and are the unsung heroes, receiving what is left, after their products get sold through the market system.
Many of our growers last year were lucky to break even, and this coming off the back of previous years of little or no income, thanks to Cyclone Gabrielle, the Northland and Auckland floods, adverse frosts, poor pollination, and lack of seed and plant material.
Not to mention post-Covid with more regulations, red tape and countless policies nonsense, and a general disregard and misunderstanding of fertile land, resources, and ultimately New Zealand’s food security, by some of our bureaucrat offices.
But last year, in the main, the weather was kind, and not one staple fruit or vegetable was short: even through our winter. You name it – greens, potatoes, kūmara, tomatoes, mushrooms, kiwifruit, apples, avocadoes, berries and everything in between.
With our horticulture industry tipped to hit $8 billion a year, and nudging third spot for export, the best thing we can do for our growers is continue to enjoy, and benefit from, eating more of their fresh produce every day.
Glenn Forsyth, Taupō.
Public safety
The dawning of 2025 and the mindless killing of a police officer undertaking routine duties, tells us it is about time the NZ Judiciary collectively stood up and resolved to properly address the best interests of the public they actually represent in this country. Enough is enough of some of the nonsensical occurrences happening in our courtrooms and Parole Board hearings across the country. Rehabilitation of criminals is one thing, but it is a lesser priority than the safety of the general public as they go about their lives.
It may well be that the enormous cost of building more prisons is nothing more than a basic element of public safety. If it is, then so be it. A spin-off benefit could be the Corrections Department becoming the country’s largest employer, and solving the unemployment issue at the same time.
Phil Chitty, Auckland.
What an honour
We can respect those sports people, judges etc. who received New Year honours for doing so well what they loved doing anyway.
But we must be amazed and grateful for those who have devoted their skills and imaginations to helping others who couldn’t help themselves.
For example, Sir Ted Manson has used his considerable business skills and resources to enable him to support disadvantaged children and families who are in no position to help themselves.
No doubt Sir Ted is not seeking publicity and probably wasn’t worried he didn’t even get a mention from TVNZ or RNZ when they were reporting on recipients of top honours. Thanks to the Herald we learned about Sir Ted’s devotion to others that we all should be very grateful for. He is an example of what honours should be all about.
B Anderson, Auckland.
Race relations
Today’s Herald (January 1) records the passing of Wally Hirsh, who, along with Hiwi Tauroa, defined the essential role of Race Relations Conciliator. The Conciliator was based in Auckland. Subsequently, the office was renamed: Human Rights Commission, and relocated to Wellington.
Mai Chen’s article in today’s Herald clearly and correctly identifies Auckland is the centre of a multicultural, super-diversified New Zealand.
An aggrieved individual, often residing in Auckland, who experiences racial discrimination should have recourse and redress through another individual. The Human Rights Commission should relocate itself back to Auckland and should revert to its original title: Race Relations
Conciliator.
John Beauregard, Whangārei.
Insignia
I think Lorraine from Warkworth might be kidding herself if she thinks that being referred to Youth Aid may make a difference to the young person from whom the T-shirt was confiscated. Be it Black Power, the Mongrel Mob, the All Blacks or the Warriors, insignias are a sign of identifying and belonging that can be a very personal thing and, as such, hard to persuade someone of the inappropriateness of wearing, irrespective of the legalities.
Clare Loudon, Waterview.
Raducanu ’withdrawal’
The “withdrawal” of Emma Raducanu from the Auckland Classic due to a back niggle and her scheduled appearance at the Australian Open, puts one in mind of the old WC Fields line: ‘I told you I was a “beer teetotaler”, not a “whiskey teetotaler”. Raducanu’s version seems to be: “I told you I was ‘Auckland injured’, not ‘Melbourne injured’.”
Rob Harris, Masterton.
Offshore benefits
Neville Cameron, in his letter today ( January, 1) states " That for six years NZ was run by a fiscally incontinent Labour Government". Does he mean that it had no or insufficient control over urination or defecation ? I suppose a government can’t control everything!
John Pollock, Auckland.
Children’s Minister
Children’s minister Karen Chhour fails to understand that “disruptive behaviour” can be a valid protest among those who are disenfranchised. Her heavy-handed condemnation of the young people who spent the night on the roof of a “correctional facility” shows that she lacks the most basic comprehension of what drives youth offending and how it might be effectively addressed.
Andrea Dawe, Sandringham.
Give it away
Does the Coalition Government also intend giving free mini bottles of alcohol to alcoholics in order to stop them drinking?
Marie Kaire, Whangārei.
Punishments
Now is the time for the judiciary to start giving out the maximum punishment possible. I believe many New Zealanders are crying out for punishments that fit the crime. It is time for the judiciary to stop considering discounts prior to sentencing.
Janet Boyle, Ōrewa.
IQ before AI
Much is being made of the need for the increased need for the use of Artificial Intelligence. Perhaps more attention should be focused on the need for Human Intelligence - particularly in the Beehive and its surrounding environment.
Garry Wycherley, Awakino.
Fossil fuel
It is so sad that Emma Mackintosh (NZHerald Jan 2) continues to write that global warming at this moment in time is due to the use of fossil fuels, when increasing scientific evidence shows this not to be so. In fact, a little reading would provide evidence that climate change is a totally natural phenomenon that has been happening, hotter and colder, for millions of years, and entirely influenced by a ball of fire that is the sun, and its natural ever-changing relationship to the Earth.
Hylton Le Grice, Remuera.
Public health
The most precious part of our health system is that it is based not on money but on caring. Private health is the opposite. You are charged for every smallest item. In the US, a friend’s wife had cancer. He’s a professor with full medical insurance, but costs are so high, he reached the maximum of his insurance cover and ended up having to sell his house. We have to realise what a treasure we have and never let it drift towards privatisation.
Susan Grimsdell, Auckland.
A sad start
Wouldn’t it be a great start to the year if there was only one religion and one tribe to belong to. Sadly belonging to the human race does not seem to mean we all are equal, rather we want to believe that our tribe or choice of religion is superior to all others. Peace on earth and goodwill to all, probably not in this lifetime.
James Archibald, Birkenhead.
Purpose-built ferries
In my view, Winston Peter’s best solution for our vital infrastructure linking the North and South Islands is as follows: We should apologise to Hyundai Shipping Company and ask that the order for our two brand-new rail-enabled ships be reinstated. Explain that our newly appointed finance minister was a political novice and made this decision wrong. Having just issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, they will understand that people in high places sometimes make mistakes.
Nicola Willis was so keen to put the boot in Labour that she decided to scrap the new ferries mostly out of spite and didn’t think through the ramifications clearly.
These purpose-built ferries and the wharf upgrades are critical for our country and will never be cheaper than today.
Getting smaller, second-hand rust buckets from Greece or elsewhere is not the answer. Peters and Willis both know this. Maybe Prime Minister Luxon needs to step in and make this happen.
Glen Stanton, Mairangi Bay.
Domain oval?
The lack of a test-quality oval in Auckland is frankly an embarrassment for New Zealand and Auckland Cricket. The three-test England series and the 20/20 Sri Lanka series have highlighted four great New Zealand ovals: Hagley Park in Christchurch, the Basin in Wellington, Seddon Park in Hamilton, and the Oval in Mt. Maunganui.
The New Zealand viewing public has been treated to spectacular “birds-eye” drone views of all these four grounds. The other important aspect of these four ovals is that they are very central to the cities they are situated in. Auckland will continue to be starved of test cricket until the matter of a suitable oval ground and central location can be resolved. Eden Park is not an oval, and while accessible, it is unsuitable.
Victoria Park is accessible but unsuitable due to its size. The University Cricket Club ground at Colin Maiden Park in Glen Innes is unsuitable as it is not a central location.
Having said all that, what about considering developing an oval in the Domain alongside the Museum?
Certainly, there would be compromises due to the fact that the Domain, in its current format, is already used for winter and summer sports, but the positioning is perfect, and the Domain would be a very attractive setting.
Randal Lockie, Rothesay Bay.
Registered nurses
When I graduated as a nurse in the early 1960s, I felt honoured to receive the distinctive five-star badge which was the recognition since September 12, 1901, of a NZ nurse’s registration. At the time we were taught the badge symbolised “true service in the alleviation of suffering”.
It distresses me, therefore, to learn that at some of our public hospitals, care of patients falls short of good basic nursing practice. High tech is one thing, but often people in hospital, particularly the elderly, need compassionate care. Sometimes this seems to be rare commodity.
Incidentally, New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant registration to nurses.
Glennys Adams, Waiheke Island.
Fears we're pushing our psychiatrists out of the public mental health system.