Stellar incompetence
We have learned over the past two years just how incompetent the Ministry of Health is with one stuff-up after another.
However, the debacle over the supply of rapid antigen tests (RATs) takes this incompetence to a stellar level.
Based on ministry advice, the Government banned the importation of RATs, despite
proven success overseas, only to finally see sense and quietly drop the embargo in November. New Zealand was at the back of the queue when it came to ordering essential supplies.
In the meantime, private companies, with a common sense that seems to elude the Government at times, purchased RATs to fill their customers' orders.
Not willing to own up to gross incompetence that has seen a massive shortage of these kits, the Health Ministry has, in effect, stolen their supply of RATs, saying it knows far better than business where these kits should end up.
If this happened in China or North Korea there would probably be little surprise but we are a first-world democracy.
Heads need to roll at the ministry and the first to go should be the director.
Pat Taylor, Bethlehem.
Importing RATs
The Government website for authorised rapid antigen tests has me bewildered. Ten imported tests have been approved by the Ministry of Health from South Korea, Germany, USA (5) and China (2).
So what's happened to our own Hamilton-based Rako? Why has it, like so many New Zealand businesses, been sidelined by this ruthlessly controlling Government?
Same story with Tether ventilation systems in schools. Another kick in the guts for local business.
Mary Tallon, Little Huia.
We have a treaty
Please explain to Brooke van Velden (NZ Herald, January 26) that her "anyone else" is actually "everyone else" apart from Māori.
It apparently escapes her, as it does many of us latecomers, that there are only two relevant groups politically: The incumbents and the rest of us (i.e. the latecomers whose entry entitlement is enshrined in the treaty of admittance -the Treaty of Waitangi).
The importance of the incumbency of Māori and the treaty is paramount and, sadly, lost on so any who should be aware.
John Pausina, Kohimarama.
Ruled over
A report from Sweden, "The Global State of Democracy Report 2021" has confirmed what can be casually observed: That many of the world's governments are becoming more authoritarian. Apparently vocal minorities (the alt-right, anti-vaxxers, etc.) see authoritarianism as the means of overcoming a majority will they dislike. But one needs to look no further than Vladimir Putin to see the evils of this. Here is one man, acting on his own proclivities, threatening to start WWIII. Were Russia more democratic her politicians would ignore Ukraine and focus on the majority of Russians' concerns with the mess that's domestic Russia.
Robert Myers, Auckland Central.
Russian to act
I recently posted a comment to a video about the impending invasion of Ukraine, taking a lateral view of Putin's aggressive attitude. I suggested: "Maybe Russia wants to join Nato? It feels left out of the party?"
And I received this most revealing reply: "As a Russian I totally confirm this. Russia just wants to be accepted in Europe, Nato and EU.. ( and three love hearts) "
It's an odd way of showing affection, for Putin and Russia, killing 14000 young Ukrainian soldiers and others to get loved?
But in this strange world of totally narcissistic leaders "on both sides" and vast wealth hoarded and stashed in palaces and Swiss bank accounts, anything is possible.
Ask the young of Russia, and they maybe prefer love over war? And would far prefer to be able to mix and share with the 30 western countries of the EU where freedom and opportunity are the endgame?
Rob Buchanan, Kerikeri.
