A police office watches a group of anti-vaccine protesters outside a Northland health clinic. Photo / Michael Cunningham
In a pandemic, the government has to take strong measures to ensure the health of its citizens.
Overseas experience indicates that vaccination passports and 'no jab, no work' strictures have been successful in encouraging vaccination take-up.
The democratic rights of the majority must over-ride the protests of the minority who choose not to be vaccinated. The Human Rights Act also protects the rights of the majority. There can be no right to act in a way that allows an individual to endangers others. Talk of using this act to avoid vaccination makes no sense. In my view, a court faced with a decision as to whether a worker is entitled to endanger his/her colleagues by refusing to be vaccinated would rule in favour of the rights of the majority to be protected in their workplace.
Janie Weir, Newmarket.
Closing Marsden Pt
In 2016, a biojet consortium was formed that included, among others, Air NZ and Marsden Point Refinery. This consortium was disbanded due to the planned closure of the refinery. Air NZ is now hoping for a new consortium to emerge enabling them to meet their emissions targets (Herald, September 28). To date, the decision to close the refinery is based solely on company profitability with no consideration for the environmental costs or consequences. At Marsden Point we have highly developed infrastructure suitable for biofuel production and possibly sustainable aviation fuel. Prior to the decision to close the refinery it was on-track to produce cleaner fuels for the marine, and road sectors. The Government says it is open to considering options for future uses of the refinery, yet are seemingly unprepared to step-in and delay its closure pending a clear plan for the future of renewable fuels to be developed. Until a plan that includes environmental costs and security of supply is developed, future attempts to develop biofuels will meet the same demise as the 2016 consortium.
Peter Kelly, Glendene.
Delta inevitable
It will not matter how one spins it, Delta Covid was going to turn up here. The big questions were always when, and how. It came on an airplane and that was because our borders opened. One has to ask what did the elimination strategy achieve? I would suggest, not a lot. It has given the Government some breathing space to proclaim they did not cause a train wreck. Ultimately however, the train wreck has been an economic nightmare, for future generations and a whole lot of people going broke. The Titanic did sink, even though experts said it would not.
John Ford, Taradale.
Centralised power
The business supplement, Mood of The Boardroom (NZ Herald, October 7) raised one doubt, the proposed centralisation of healthcare, watercare, polytechnic and education administration together with Labour's Fair Pay Agreement Bill. If enacted, it will ensure work place conditions and renumeration will be influenced by union dominance and a politically appointed arbitrator governing a compulsory, centralised system abolished in 1987 and replaced by the current scheme which has served us well.
Centralisation with the resultant transfer of localised decision making and financial resources to [Wellington] is not only undemocratic, costly, but unnecessary as only time will tell.
P. J. Edmondson, Tauranga.
Holes in plan
There's plenty wrong with Bruce Cotterill's "Now this is a plan" (Weekend Herald, October 9) but the most obvious is that his "plan" hasn't said where he'll get the extra 2000 hospital and ICU beds we'll need if we were silly enough to implement it.
Mark Nixon, Remuera.
Response appropriate
Is Bruce Cotterill's next book "The best leaders don't shout, they moan"?
Countries quick to lockdown — NZ, Australia, Singapore for instance — spared their citizens high hospitalisations, and many deaths, by keeping Covid-19 out. With Delta variant, as the situation changes, the Government is appropriately ramping up vaccinations and making this a key to staged re-opening. It's tough for sure, but in a rapidly changing situation they would be foolish to set specific dates or national vaccination numbers for automatic reopening. Does Bruce really believe the dysfunctional opposition would have done better?
Philip Rich, St Heliers.
Off the mark
Alberta, Canada has a few less people than New Zealand. Their Covid approach, so far, has similarities with The Cotterill plan. They have achieved 84per cent first vaccinations and 75per cent fully, which is better than us, yet they have declared a "state of public health emergency".
This is because they have had 45,000 Covid infections in September and about 10 deaths a day in September. There are about 1000 people hospitalised with Covid and ICU capacity is getting close to overload. They are asking for Federal support. The citizens now have numerous restrictions. Your plan would lead to disaster, Mr Cotterill.
Allan Bell, Torbay.
Prisons in pandemic
US prisons were Covid hothouses during the first wave of the pandemic.
Some 400,000 cases and 2555 deaths were documented over a one-year span.
Approximately 10,000 are currently incarcerated in prisons throughout NZ. My understanding is that vaccination rates are exceedingly low, with [about] 37per cent having received their first jab. Maybe the Government could offer a one-month reduction in their sentence for every inmate being fully vaccinated? I think we need to really think outside the square to get marginalised groups on board.
Glen Stanton, Mairangi Bay.
Gang intimidation
I would appreciate the opportunity to counter mob spokeswoman Louise Hutchinson who has said demonising gangs amidst the pandemic needs to stop. I am unsure what she meant by her assertion that there are zero cases in any gang in the Waikato. I don't have the data to refute that claim. However, I do have the compulsion to view a lot of gang activity as intimidating at best. I absolutely wish to demonise their activity in New Zealand, irrespective of their Covid status. I am not saying the whole country should join me, but I object to a gang spokeswoman trying to tell me otherwise. There is reported evidence of gang activity that has endangered the health of the vulnerable, in the communities they either lord over or occasionally serve with the odd deed. I'll stop demonising them if they stop driving around with boot loads of cash. This is a different matter to the pragmatic need to engage with them, as is happening, for the sake of public health.
Jason Conway, Te Atatu North.
Stand up to China
I must compliment David Stevenson for his excellent, intelligent commentary (NZ Herald, October 8) detailing this country's shamefully flaccid fence-sitting policies toward China, especially with that country's rapidly expanding and highly aggressive military tentacles posing a very real and immediate threat to, among other peaceful, democratic nations, Taiwan.
The author is on the right track in that we should fully support our like-minded friends and allies such as Australia, the US, Japan and others in every way.
An all out and completely unjustifiable unleashing of Chinese firepower in the South China Sea isn't a matter of if, but a pressing matter of when.
That day is creeping closer and full international action must be at the ready.
Peter Cook, Lynfield.
Workplace vaccination
No jab, no job is a no-brainer. And there is legislation to back the policy up.
Employment law and laws surrounding health and safety dictate that employers take steps to provide safe work places. Given what we now know; having unvaccinated people in close proximity with vaccinated employees is clearly not making this provision.
Richard Alspach, Dargaville.
Idiots ruin it
Selfish, irresponsible, immature idiots. That's the only way to describe those that continue to flout lockdown and border rules. Do they not realise that they are putting the whole nation at risk, not only of contracting Covid but suffering with other serious conditions being unable to get medical treatment from an already stretched system, businesses suffer when further lockdowns are imposed.
Surely a lengthy jail term is the only suitable punishment for these perpetrators.
Warren Cossey, Morrinsville.
On NZ Inc
If a business was operating the way NZ Inc is being managed, it would be in liquidation. Graham Fleetwood, Botany Downs.
On gangs
One would think the gangs here have the same impunity and following as the royal family of England. Glenn Forsyth, Taupo.
On travel
Don't leave home without a vaccine if your destination is at a different alert level. No exemptions. You've had plenty of time and ample opportunity. Make it happen, lawmakers. Ian Swney, Morrinsville.
On Northland
The female who is uncooperative in respect of her spreading Covid and refusing to say where she has been in Northland is far worse than the Wanaka couple, who have been outed through having their photos, names and occupations publicised. At least they have admitted their sins. No privacy for them. Can we expect the same treatment for this woman and if not, why not? Peter Patten, Albany.
On Covid
We have gone from levels to road maps and then traffic lights. Have we now hit a speed bump? Wendy Tighe-Umbers, Parnell.
Mandates need legal backing: hospo
Employers already have legal workplace heath and safety requirements with high penalties for non-compliance. Staff and customers must abide by them. Covid is about health and safety. Unfortunately, there are times people have to accept there are consequences of their action (or non-action). If you have the 'right' to choose not to be vaccinated, as a business owner I must equally have the 'right' to not let you into my business. This is not about personal liberties this is about the community and not a one-sided 'rights' issue. Janet J.
Pretty sure there is a legal requirement to not serve drunken patrons and exit them as needed ... why do we not give hospo industry the same requirement for vaccination? In terms of legal protection and community understanding. Adam B.
The hospitality industry, by law, already have to identify drunks, problem gamblers (where pokies /TABs are present) and underage patrons and refuse service where appropriate. I'm not sure how identifying and refusing service to those with or without a vax certificate is so very different. Li B.
One of the problems will be telling someone that's maybe already had a couple of drinks that they can't come in if not vaccinated. The number of people unvaccinated are by far the minority but certainly make the most noise. At least if it's law all establishments will treat it the same and even the unvaccinated will figure it out (hopefully). Stu T.
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