Transport Minister Michael Wood and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Transport Minister Michael Wood and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Opinion
Letter of the week
Promises had better be backed up
During the 2017 election campaign, the Labour Party, then in opposition, were relentless in their criticism of the National Government's performance in respect to housing, and made all sorts of promises to the electorate at large. Having gained the Treasurybenches the Labour, NZ First and Green Government then proceeded to ... do nothing! By the time the 2020 election rolled around, the housing situation was even worse, and it continues to deteriorate. On Tuesday this week, the Labour Government stepped out and made an even bigger promise to the electorate.
So here's hoping that those prospective home buyers who have high expectations of getting something out of this most recent promise, actually do. But maybe they should reflect on what's happened with housing over the past few years, and perhaps not hold their breath?
Being able to put yourself in others' shoes is a prerequisite for true leadership. Judith Collins, leader of the opposition, has asked for an "immediate bubble" before the border workers are fully vaccinated, before health nurses and paramedics have any vaccination and long before vulnerable people are vaccinated.
Does she not understand how these people feel? A year ago nurses remember coming home, stripping at the foyer, discarding their clothes to be washed, and showering immediately, sending dread into their whānau as they hopefully sanitised. Her shoes may be well worn at Parliament in relative Covid safety but she hasn't walked in the shoes of those still unvaccinated.
She has also asked for "more returnees from hotspots to fill the spaces" freed up, totally counter to advice from Michael Baker who says this "increases the risk".
Today, evidently three weeks after a first vaccination, you can still catch Covid in MIQ. Has she learned anything from this or have the Nats no idea why they actually lost the election despite their review?
