Letters: Have-nots, tree planting, TV audiences and Jacinda Ardern

Some of us are dreaming of a Pacific Island getaway while our neighbours are struggling to get by where they are. Photo / Supplied, File

Opinion

Letter of the week: James Archibald, Birkenhead.

For those with the wherewithal, electric cars, private health insurance, investments, overseas holidays, etc, are must-haves.
For the hourly wage worker, these are usually not on the wish list. Healthy food on the table; a reliable car of any type; a secure affordable warm healthy home (rented or purchased); affordable dentist and doctors visits; and schooling costs that minimum wage workers can afford, might be more apt.
Instead of bolstering the better off with nice-to-have schemes like the cycle/walkway over the harbour, let's focus on these essentials instead.
It's time politicians stopped listening to the noisy, squeaky wheel minority and got back in touch with those whose problems are less esoteric, but no less real.

Lofty dreaming
Dr Sam Dean talks of forestry offsets (Weekend Herald, June 12).
Only a small fraction of Shane Jones' billion trees were planted, with no benefit to us as the carbon credits were sold offshore to airlines and others.
Will NIWA or others provide a balance sheet, open to scrutiny, making it clear where we actually stand regarding our climate change position? The balance sheet doesn't have to give us answers or opinions, as this wouldn't be expected from non-governmental organisations.
Government and big business can then be on the same page, after agreement on where we are at, and proceed to find the answers.
This is just a dream.
Stuart Mackenzie, Ōhura.

Future vision
In "Seeing the Future" (Weekend Herald, June 12) Damien Venuto reveals fascinating insights into how TVNZ's chief executive and commercial director hope "to change the way Kiwis watch television". But as the final say on the future of the state-owned television company will be made by their bosses, it would be even more interesting to hear from TVNZ's shareholding ministers, Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Faafoi.
What are their views, if they have any, on the country's dominant source of news and current affairs replacing its evening bulletins with a news programme customised to appeal to the tastes and prejudices of individual viewers with the help of algorithms?
Tom Frewen, Manakau.

Prime position
The review of Jacinda Ardern (Weekend Herald, June 12) was an honest appraisal of a person who was meant to be a leader.
Ardern is the 19th prime minister in my lifetime, my first Michael Joseph Savage. All prime ministers deserve our respect, as it is an onerous and thankless task.
A woman who can convince a man to stay home and look after a young baby instead of going fishing has to be very high up on my list.
Reg Dempster, Albany.

Lost opportunity
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, "we've put our best foot forward" in her explanation of why the bid to fund the next America's Cup defence fell short. I beg to differ.
The difference between their bid and the requirement of Team NZ is, by all reports, about $100 million. The next defence would require almost nothing in infrastructure - it's all there now.
Despite the best efforts of Covid and the council cones, the America's Cup defence was a success. It showed the world a life after Covid. The TV pictures of a sparkling Waitematā and surrounds were pure gold as far as publicity goes.
Covid likely to be under control in three years, the completion of downtown Auckland and the expected influx of superyachts and tourists make for an exciting opportunity to showcase NZ.
A cash injection of $100 million should be seen as a wise investment that could be repaid many times over.
Can anyone imagine the reaction to the same myopic thinking should the government and council decide the City Rail Link was getting too expensive - and put it into mothballs?
David Bevan, Howick.

Diminishing support
No amount of "reasonable" economic logic for why New Zealand can't support the America's Cup in New Zealand is enough. The hard fact is that when the chips are down, those of us who support Team NZ are let down.
New Zealand's America's Cup victories have placed a remote small nation on the world stage. That recognition will evaporate. Most important, it will be lost within the New Zealand community.
We are now told that Team NZ members will flee unless they are highly paid. This revelation further undermines their close support from the New Zealand community.
Shame on the RNZYS and Team NZ.
David Haigh, Sahula, Kawau Island.

Cooks example
Te Marae Ora in the Cook Islands has delivered first-dose vaccination to 95 per cent of all those 16 years and over on both Rarotonga and Aitutaki within three weeks. Second-dose and delivery to the Pa Enua (outer islands) is now under way.
This nation, which has never had an active Covid case, is now the safest place on earth to live in or visit.
New Zealand can learn from this to correct our current trickle-out and replace complacency with urgency.
Firstly, put one logistics expert in charge, preferably non-medical. Vaccination is too important to leave with our 26 overburdened DHBs and their committees. Secondly, remove the absurd "vaccinator barrier" requirements and enlist our vast and experienced nurse/doctor workforce, especially general practices.
Our current strategy is more fizzer than Pfizer. Let's get the jab done.
Dr John Dunn, visiting surgeon, Rarotonga Hospital.

Pie time, Braunias
Enough time has gone by since Steve Braunias completed his epic task of eating at the 55 eateries along Lincoln Rd for him to once again have a New Zealand favourite. A pie.
Steve, come north to Warkworth and I'll make a mouthwatering bacon and egg pie. What's more, I'll send you home with a container of the most decadent rocky road.
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.

A quick word

Whatever our colour or creed, collectively we make up the population of the world. People who commit racial abuse are obviously not comfortable in their own skin. V. Hall, Whangaparāoa.

The proposed walking and cycling bridge over the Waitematā Harbour is a nonsense. As a small country, we need to look at the greater good, not the lesser good. Steve Horne, Raglan.

How about getting China to send over their experts to build a new crossing, in less than half the time, and at a quarter of the cost? Regardless of the politics, you know it's the only sensible thing to do. Paul Baker, Waitākere.

Who will be asked to design the White Elephant that will have to be attached to the planned cycle bridge? Roger Hall, Takapuna.

Watch out for road user charges on EVs, coming soon in your city. Peter Reekie, Whangamatā.

Is Paul Goldsmith the only MP left in New Zealand with the courage to express a view on Māori/Pakeha relationships? Brian Main, Hamilton.

Lord save us from any more revealing photos of Lorde, as featured in Steve Braunias' (Weekend Herald, June 12) article on al(bum) covers... At first I thought it was a promotional photo for wax strips. Coralie van Camp, Remuera.

What to call cheque-less cheque accounts? No problem. Call them by their correct name - current accounts. John Neave, Hamilton.

The Government rightly adopted a science/fact-based approach to Covid; however, unfortunately, it has taken an ideological approach to everything else - much to NZ's misfortune. Steve Dransfield, Karori.

To all those who think reading the letters page keeps them in touch with true public opinion, you should also be aware that you don't know what the Herald chooses not to publish. Ashley Clarke, Beach Haven.

I signed in with the good, old tracer app. at the pub door last night. Most people didn't. Do they believe in magic, or in nothing at all? Stan Jones, Hamilton.

I wonder if the residents of Bermuda had to pay the equivalent of $200 million to have the 35th edition of the America's Cup staged in their Great Sound? Milton Wylie, Manly.

A comprehensive and heavily government-subsidised health system is all part of the Kiwi way of giving everyone "a fair go" in life. Provided you don't mind going broke paying for hospital parking. Peter Culpan, Te Atatū Peninsula.