Letters: Make our own vaccine, MIQ in Auckland, vaccine supply and demand, and Parliament recalled

Malaghan Institute Director Professor Graham Le Gros and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the institute in August, 2020. Photo / Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images, File

Opinion

Back our Kiwi can-do

The article (NZ Herald, August 3) interviewing Professor Graham Le Gros, the director of the Malaghan Institute of Research, is a must-read.
In the future, a repeat of our incompetent vaccine rollout can easily be solved by investing a paltry $50 million over the next five years in developing a vaccine here in New Zealand.
It could be taken out of the government's spin doctor/ PR fund?
The Malaghan Institute is a world-class leader in medical research so why we would not support their developing vaccines for today and the future?
Linda Robert, Parnell.

Covid share
There are 31 hotels in New Zealand being used for MIQ. Of these, 17 are in Auckland; three in Hamilton, three in Rotorua; two in Wellington; and six are in Christchurch.
That means that Auckland has 55 per cent of the MIQ facilities.
Is it any wonder that Auckland has the most active cases of Covid and as a consequence suffers with the most frequent and longer lockdowns?
Surely the Covid load should be shared out among the whole country.
We have been labelled the team of 5 million, but Auckland is bearing 55 per cent of the load. I realise that more flights land in Auckland, but then the load should be shared out. Surely, it is also wiser to have the MIQ facilities in smaller population areas, thereby making it much easier to track and trace when there are leaks in the MIQ facilities?
These leaks are far, far too frequent, despite us being advised that the problems have/are being resolved.
D. Smith, Forrest Hill.

Today's truth
Over the past few months, our Prime Minister has exhorted us to get vaccinated against Covid. Fair enough, it made sense. So we all went out and did this or got booked. Last week our Prime Minister was ecstatic in declaring "good news" as close to 90,000 people had been vaccinated in a single day. Then Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins expressed reservations in having sufficient vaccine stock available, which was a frightening admission.
This week, a subtle change occurred when, in a question to our Prime Minister on television, she told us there was no problem with supply but perhaps there was a problem with the demand side.
So, in doing what the Prime Minister asked us to do, it's our failure for doing it. This spin is incredible in that it's our fault and not the Government's in purchasing insufficient stock. Unbelievable. It parallels the novel 1984 in which truth was constantly being amended and rewritten on a daily basis.
I wonder what the next truth from the Government will be?
David Hallett, Mt Maunganui.

Political panto
There aren't words to express my disgust at Act and National in insisting on Parliament being recalled. They could have easily discharged their opposition responsibilities virtually.
Their arrogance beggars belief. Well done to the Green and Māori parties for refusing to participate in such a dangerous and unnecessary pantomime.
Peter Brooks, Mairangi Bay.

Response priority
Our Covid Response Minister is on record confirming that more than half our accredited vaccinators have not had a chance to get to work yet. At the same time, he has acknowledged he requested our vaccine deliveries be delayed as he didn't think he was capable of arranging a system to get vaccines into arms in a timely manner.
Can someone please explain what his role is supposed to be?
Surely, higher vaccination levels were the first and highest priority in our Covid-19 response?
Lucas Bonne, Unsworth Heights.

Costly decision
I wish to challenge the notion that the Covid crisis in 2021 is well managed. Minister Hipkins decided to not pay $40m extra for vaccines six months ago. Instead, he preferred they went to other countries in Africa.
That decision has cost more than $2b, hospitalised 38 people and left many vulnerable people unvaccinated.
One of the worst vaccine rolls out in the world, how much damage from one bad decision?
Michael Single, Bayswater.

Positive words
Tuesday's columnist, Paul Hunt, is right about hate speech (NZ Herald, August 31) but doesn't mention love speech.
I was an invited speaker on Radio New Zealand for about 10 years, first on a two-minute weekday slightly religious slot, Morning Comment, then promoted to the four-minute Sunday Supplement. Then came the new young editors who said "We're not going to have any more of that religious crap on weekdays. New Zealand is now a proudly post-Christian society."
I don't know what their mandate was, but mine was a large box full of appreciative letters from all over the country, saying how helpful it was before a difficult day to hear something uplifting, and to look forward to the next day's talk.
I remember an old but very wise saying about the baby and the bathwater.
Dr Harold Coop, Remuera

Set blockades
If and when we have another lockdown that affects Auckland, the Government should tell the police before the public announcement.
In this way, the roadblocks could be put in place before those who are selfish flee the city to their holiday homes, whether they be in Northland, the Coromandel, or the lakes.
Every time we've had lockdowns, this has happened and those who are selfishly only thinking of themselves will only continue to do it.
Annette Stewart, Greenlane.

On backburner
Given current focus on our power generation mix, ironically, lockdown helps it to become more renewable.
On Sunday, August 29 at 12.57, electricity market data showed that coal was burned for only 6-7 hours of the 24-hour period shown, and our renewables ratio dial rose to 90 per cent. Same result through to August 31.
Perhaps there is some good in every bad situation after all?
Nick Nicholas, Greenlane.

Calls answered
Peter Cooper, (NZ Herald, August 31) congratulates the BNZ on offering a choice of music for waiting phone customers.
I would like to congratulate the ASB on its priority phone line for over-65s. The call is answered promptly by cheerful, patient staff who seem sympathetic to the caller's problem and provide help in plain language.
Anne Martin, Helensville.

Northern stars
Thank you fellow New Zealanders north of Auckland's southern border for "doing the hard yards" in our battle to contain and extinguish the Covid-19 Delta variant from New Zealand. We all know what it is like to be in lockdown, but you are the ones that have to work hardest at this time.
By doing this, we will be granted more time to get New Zealanders vaccinated. This will prevent unnecessary Covid deaths, put less strain on our valued medical workers and help New Zealand return to Level 1 in the hopefully not too distant future.
Cheers to you all.
David Zehms, Lyttelton.

Short & sweet

On Parliament
Audrey Young should be nominated for a Covid kindness award for her article (NZ Herald, August 31). Such gentle language must have been hard to sustain. An admirable effort. David Hopkins, Remuera.

The more cynical among us may think Judith Collins is not an essential worker and shouldn't travel, especially when she can work from home using Zoom. Paul Hicks, Warkworth.

I do not understand how children can manage remote learning while the business of government requires breaking of lockdown practices. Perhaps it says something about the relative intelligence? Rod Lyons, Muriwai.

On Paralympics
Lovely photo of legendary American Paralympian Jessica Long (NZ Herald, August 28) congratulating swimmer Tupou Nelufi on her winning gold. M. Smith, Oratia.

l am humbled and enthralled by the outstanding efforts of the Paralympian athletes. The dedication and mindset needed by disadvantaged athletes should help to inspire us all. John Norris, Whangamatā.

On vaccine
"There is no problem with vaccine supply, there is simply too much demand." How do you spell dissemble? Mary Tallon, Takapuna.

On response
I can't help but agree with Ivan Erceg (NZ Herald, August 31). Although not a fan of the current administration, by universal standards, they have performed admirably. Peter Cooper, Ellerslie.

The Premium Debate

Parliament resumed

A real win for democracy. This current government needs to be held to account for the botched vaccine rollout and I hope they are. There is much to be held to account for. Judith B.

A virtual question time will just result in people talking over the top of each other. Even a limited number of key ministers and opposition members, in the real parliament is preferable to chaos. Walter H.

"How can I let people stock shelves while I stay home," Judith Collins asks. The people stocking shelves can't do that virtually. Does she really not get it? Steve E.

The Epidemic Response Committee that was formed to hold the government to account during the first lockdown was excellent. It used Zoom and was chaired by Simon Bridges. Many commented how much better than the archaic parliament theatre it was. Judith Collins is putting people at risk for no reason. Ross W.

Judith Collins is conveniently forgetting that essential workers who can work from home have been strongly encouraged to do so. Her role being a case in point, unlike the shelf stackers and police she is trying in vain to compare herself with. Rick F.

This reminds us that if we had a right-wing government, we would have had looser lockdown strategies and ended up like other places like UK, NSW, etc. Stewart D.

Thanks to the opposition for pushing the Government to have their pandemic response debated in Parliament. Thanks to the PM and her ministers for fronting up to be scrutinised. Fui-Mee C.

Everyone else is working via Zoom as have other governments across the globe. It brings to mind Simon Bridges' epic North Island road trip last year. Robert H.