Value for money?
In response to Heather du Plessis-Allan's comments about privileged Kiwis overseas, with over 45,000 Covid-19 deaths here in the UK, I can't say I feel very privileged.
I'm not against the principle of cost-sharing for quarantine, and perhaps it is reasonable to suggest charging the full amount for people who leave New Zealand for a holiday.
But not all Kiwis overseas are on OE, or a holiday. Many have family abroad. Individuals are faced with conflicting demands and responsibilities and the costs involved will only make such decisions all the more complex.
Flights back to NZ are much more expensive now. Add $6000 for a couple faced with quarantine and it could be extremely difficult for many citizens to return to their own country.
The $380 million quarantine bill the Government are paying is a huge amount. But, perhaps it should be seen as good value for money considering it has kept Kiwis safe and allowed New Zealand to get back to a way of life the rest of us can only be envious of.
Martin Owen, United Kingdom
Generous act
I thought it very generous of the PM to hand the details of Andrew Fallon's indiscretion to the Leader of the Opposition. This was done without any fuss, without prompting or cynically handing potentially very damaging material to media, to further her own party's cause in the upcoming election, by exposing unbefitting behaviour by one of her opponents.
I can't help but wonder how this scenario would have played out had the Opposition been handed this information by a mother concerned about a Government MP's actions.
Kindness, courtesy, transparency, truth and goodwill in all dealings are what we need in New Zealand's leaders.
It's what we have in our current Government, one respected around the world for its consideration of its country's citizens' health and welfare, first and foremost. Why would we want to change?
Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark
Nuclear power
Judith Collins titled her autobiography Pull no Punches, meaning make sure you hit hard and do real physical damage to the other person, but she told a Taranaki audience last week she preferred "Take no Prisoners", meaning kill every last one of the enemy, even if defenceless, the famous adage of Lawrence of Arabia in his cruellest moment of savagery.
She is (NZ Herald, January 18) the National Party's "Nuclear Option", as if we now accept that it is permissible to incinerate thousands of civilians as a legitimate act of war, everything our 1987 Act of Parliament was designed to mitigate.
If she is to become the leader of my country, where am I to seek asylum in a world crazed with displaying might as right, politically, commercially and militarily? Australia? Britain? The United States? Brazil? India?
Kindness is a better path, even if it costs more money immediately.
Peter Wills, Waiheke Island
Super Fund
Mythology abounds re the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.
It does not guarantee any of the features of New Zealand Superannuation, such as its level, the age of eligibility, how it is adjusted for inflation and wages, residency requirement and lack of a means test. Nor will it be any help for the next 30 years.
Under current settings nothing trickles out of this fund until 2050. By then, Baby Boomers will be aged 85 to 105 so it doesn't have much at all to do with paying for the generosity to that generation.
In the current crisis when many working-age families face severe economic hardship it is very questionable to tax them to contribute $ 2 billion a year to this fund. That's like saving for a rainy day when the roof is collapsing and the kids are hungry.
Beware of National's reasons to stop contributions however; they are keener on lowering tax than spending the saved money on poverty prevention, welfare reform and social housing.
Susan St John, Retirement Policy and Research Centre, University of Auckland
Empathy needed
I think the idea to charge our countrymen for detention upon return to New Zealand is a bad idea. A better idea is to reduce the cost and time of quarantine.
If people test negative for Covid-19 on arrival they should be allowed to self-isolate with no cost for the government and taxpayer. The very few who do test positive should be under observation and mandatory quarantine for two weeks. This would reduce the quarantine capacity required and therefore the cost by over 90 per cent without increasing the risk for New Zealand.
The current arrangement is perceived by many to be overzealous and is neither required, nor sustainable.
When we consider these things we need to be empathetic and inclusive and consider how we would like to be treated when returning to New Zealand.
Frank Olsson, Freemans Bay
Speaking out
The Chinese ambassador has said we will get along fine provided we butt out of their domestic affairs.
That's fair enough, but we should always speak out about international behaviour we find abhorrent without necessarily identifying the offending country or countries.
If the cap fits.
Graham Astley, Epsom
Short & sweet
On magazines
I read that some magazines will be published again soon after the
Covid-19 restrictions. Hopefully old fashioned sexist titles like Woman's Weekly and Woman's Day will disappear. Gender-neutral alternatives could be used such as: Weekly Magazine, and Awesome Day.
Doetie Keizer, Riverton.
On Warriors
Now that Sonny Bill Williams isn't playing for the Wolfpack maybe he might consider joining the Warriors. I'm sure they'd welcome him with open arms.
Rex Head, Papatoetoe
On NZ First
I see NZ First is seeking advice from two men who helped with Boris Johnson's Leave the EU Campaign. As we know his Brexit campaign was riddled with misinformation, so it will be interesting to see what these two add to NZ First's election campaign.
Alan Milton, Cambridge
On National
Thirteen MPs have left or are leaving National. Four people have left quarantine. Which is the greater shambles?
Dave McIver, Bayview
On PM
I find it quite amusing that a lot of people, including some media, suggest that the Prime Minister saved our country from Covid. I would have thought that the medical profession kept Covid at bay.
A J Petersen, Kawerau
