Letters: Seeing the bright side, stranded sports teams, Rod Emmerson, and Bruce Cotterill

Not everything is as we want it but the sun also rises each day and we have many blessings. Photo / 123rf

Opinion

Letter of the week: Leanne Pooley, Westmere.

Yes there's a pandemic on, yes being locked down is financially difficult and emotionally trying ... but the endless carping that has become the new national pastime is making it worse.
Currently, no matter what the Government does, it is wrong. Increase support for businesses and it's not enough; it's too much debt; or it takes a minute to fill in the form.
Those outside of Auckland go to level 2 and, instead of celebrating, the focus is on the traffic at the "border" or why bars can only admit 50 people instead of 100.
Thousands of people die every day in the US, England and Australia while we have one of the lowest per capita death rates in the world; over 50 times better than Australia and over 100 times better than the US.
That's a lot of people still alive; mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, etc who might have otherwise suffered the ignominy of a funeral-less demise.
We have lived near-normal lives for a year, a year during which hospitality/tourism/entertainment ground to a halt around the world.
It would be a lot easier to play on the team of 5 million if so many of the team didn't spend so much time complaining.

For your service
I have always admired the American tradition of thanking anybody who has served in the armed forces, thus respecting their effort. This is acknowledged with the phrase, "Thank you for your service."
Perhaps we could develop the habit for those individuals who are currently serving on the front line during this Covid-19 epidemic. It might make their day.
Paul Evans-McLeod, Te Rapa.

Left to cope
I struggle to squeeze out a tear in sympathy for the sports teams that, while being paid very well, have to be away from home for several months.
Navy wives in the 1960s and 70s coped for nine months or more at a time with zero support, moaning was frowned upon.
We had very little money - kicking and swearing at the third-hand lawnmower was not effective and punctures did not fix themselves.
Rachel Lewis, Takapuna.

Courage illustrated
What an outstanding drawing by Rod Emmerson (Weekend Herald, September 11), reminding us all of the bravery of Alan Beaven and those who by their actions prevented destruction and loss of life - the terrorists target being possibly the White House.
All we have to do to be brave today, or tomorrow, is get a vaccination and wear a mask.
Gillian Dance, Mt Albert.

Truth to power
May I commend you for having Bruce Cotterill's column (Weekend Herald, September 11). It's so good to read his perspectives and insights, and to read someone who is not just a mouthpiece and apologist for this Government. His voice is one of reason, reality, and above all, common sense.
Long may he continue.
Gary Kenny, Tauranga.

Being reasonable?
Re: Bruce Cotterill (Weekend Herald, September 11), it's amazing how raucous certain portions of the media became almost as soon as Labour came to power with a truly charismatic leader.
I find it difficult to remember any in the media complaining about John Key's largely unearned but long-lived popularity.
Perhaps it is the case that most of New Zealand press are pretty fair-minded, and the reason they are giving the present government a fair go is because it is doing a really good job in circumstances of a difficulty not seen since World War II?
Peter Rodriguez, Whanganui.

Where's my staff?
Brien Cree who runs a rest home, is quoted by Fran O'Sullivan (Weekend Herald, September 11) as saying "the Government didn't prepare" for Covid-19 by bringing in thousands more nurses. It isn't the Government's job to staff Cree's nursing home - that is what he is paid to do.
I spent most of my working life mixing with the international business community. NZ-run businesses were a bit of a laughing stock around the world because they were always bottom of the productivity league that is the measure of business management competence and effort.
I can't imagine any of my former colleagues asking their governments to do their jobs for them.
Mark Nixon, Remuera.

Healthy circulation
It should come as no surprise to Herald subscribers, that the newspaper has recently recorded record circulation and readership figures. Take today's (Weekend Herald, September 11) quality editorial page as an example.
The erudite editorial itself is of such quality that it may very well lead and guide future Government policy-making for our exit from the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Emmerson's cartoon, a September 11 memorial, as always is a gem. It is a fitting and heartfelt tribute to a New Zealand hero who died in the cockpit of Flight 93 while confronting the hijackers.
John Roughan, to my mind the best, most thoughtful and constructive journalist we have, once again astonishes with his hugely well-informed and wide-angled views while posing the question "Have we learned any lessons from 9/11?"
In a newspaper that also encourages such quality views as diverse as those of Simon Wilson, Stephen Joyce and Richard Prebble, any quibbles that "Granny Herald" is somehow a captive to any sectional interest is just not borne out by the evidence.
The Herald's editor, staff, all contributors and management deserve high praise and recognition for their work.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.

A quick word

Thanks Charlie Jaine (Weekend Herald, September 11), we're thinking of you too and lovely Mt Somers. Could we borrow some vaccines, just for September, please? Steve Russell, Hillcrest.

You made my day, Charles Jaine of Mt Somers. I am very happy to be "one of the team" and proud to be an Aucklander. Dawn Yore, Henderson.

To say there was an unexpected demand for the vaccine is dishonest. The demand has always been there but the supply and accessibility haven't. Wendy Tighe-Umbers, Parnell.

If our death rate was the same as the USA, we would have more than 10,000. In the immortal words of Fred Dagg, "We don't know how lucky we are." John Burns, Mt Eden.

It's time to isolate the Covid danger zones to help keep the outer areas of Auckland safer, so they can at least, get on with some sort of normality. John Bassett, Wellsford.

If we ever opened an embassy in Kabul, could David Seymour be convinced to become New Zealand's ambassador? He would find similarly narrow-minded people with small-minded views of the world. Craig Clark, Devonport.

Huge salaries and rewards for public executives creates a situation described by economist T. Piketty in his book, Capital. Compared with nurses' pitiful incomes, this creates social discord and revolution. Alec Hill, Devonport.

Councillors reluctant to get on board with the Three Waters reforms should think again. Free from the boring tasks, it will give them more time for infighting; vanity projects; and political point scoring. Steve Dransfield, Karori.

Bruce Cotterill has finally exposed the NZ biased media. I thought I was only person that could see it. David Brown, Waiuku.

Bruce Cotterill thinks that our media is biased towards the left. Holding up the extreme right-wing media of the Murdoch empire in Australia as a fine example of good journalism is pitiful. Bill Mathews, Auckland Central.

I would like you to put together a special edition of Simon Wilson's best works or encourage him to get a collection published so I am able to re-read and keep these works to treasure. Jane Daniell, Tauranga.

Sorry to see no one responded to Vanya's query about where seameal custard got to. I'd love to know if anywhere still sells it or can get it in. Gill Eggers, Hastings.

My Covid test: take a glass of wine. Yes, I can smell it. Yes, I can taste it. So, all is well. H. Robertson, St Heliers.

Spread the word: "Vaccinate or hibernate." Linley Jones, Half Moon Bay.