Christmas plea
Dear Santa,
It's been over 60 years since I last wrote to you asking for some presents for myself at Christmas. I am not asking anything for myself now, only for New Zealand and the people who live here.
Please give it a government that looks and plans for the future.
Let it ensure that nobody arrives in New Zealand with Covid-19 by testing people on the day before they make the final leg of their journey.
When people arrive here, let them already have paid for their quarantine stay in purpose-built, dedicated isolation facilities, outside of the major centres of population.
Make the powers that be realise that we will have to live with Covid and instead of relying on lockdowns to protect the population, have a well-resourced health service that can cater for all of the team of five million. Let them also facilitate NZ's own manufacturing capacity to make the vaccine to protect all Kiwis and our Pacific neighbours.
I could also ask for fresh water that is safe to drink and swim in, a re-invigorated natural environment free of foreign introduced predators and pests, a sea not overfished and enough trees planted to mitigate New Zealand's contribution to global warming etc.
As for asking you to cure the country's ongoing issues of poverty and inequality, I will leave that for my 2022 wish list.
Frank Fordham, Bayview
Gang crackdown
The Western Australia Government under urgency has just created new legislation with zero tolerance for gangs. Any tattoos must be covered at all times, Anyone exhibiting gang patches will receive up to 12 months in jail and an A$12,000 fine. Any public assembly of gangs is subject to each offender receiving up to 12 months in prison, plus an A$12,000 fine. This totally appropriate and applauded move shows in comparison just how lax our approach to gangs is in NZ. With their increasing numbers and their unacceptable, antisocial, and frequently illegal behaviour, we need similar urgent legislation here. It would be widely supported.
Hylton Le Grice, Remuera
Politician of the year
I am not a supporter of the Act Party but I strongly disagree with Eric Skilling's comments about Claire Trevett's assessment of David Seymour as politician of the year. No ranking of anything is going to please all but I think she got this absolutely right. Nobody in the National Party could possibly be chosen as it is far too early to evaluate Chris Luxon. I do, however, disagree with her selection of Chris Hipkins as runner-up.
His performance as the Minister for Covid Response is probably the worst of any member of Parliament and that's up against some pretty stiff competition! The IT system used for managing the vaccination rollout has been consistent only in its woefulness and lack of transparency, the ordering of the vaccine from Pfizer shameful and, as highlighted in the Herald's leading article and Body's cartoon, MIQ has been a disaster.
It is not a question of whether the Omicron variant will become widespread in the community but a matter of when and how bad. From an excellent initial lockdown, it is hard to imagine how the Government could have done a worse job since. It is past time someone with a modicum of competence should be appointed, if one can be found. I am not holding my breath.
Rod Lyons, Kumeū
Obvious choice
The nomination of David Seymour as NZ's politician of the year by various right-wing political commentators is complete nonsense. He was never in a position to actually do anything so achieved nothing, and he is completely unknown overseas. The obvious choice for politician of the year as a result of her worldwide recognition for achieving the best results of any OECD country in combatting the Covid viruses is Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
David Mairs, Glendowie
Relieve the hardship
Sir Ian Taylor's article in the Herald should be compulsory holiday reading for every minister and Ministry of Health official.
We need to realise, recognise and relieve the hardship of those on the frontline, the families still not able to unite from overseas and households with delayed diagnosis and treatment.
More compassion is required particularly at this time from parliamentarians.
David de Lacey, Newmarket
