Tena Korua, Brian and Hannah,
I am writing to ask you to change your mind, and use your platform to encourage Kiwis to get vaccinated, immediately.
I have to admit to being a bit scared.I'm not worried for me, or my whānau. I've been double vaccinated, my wife and children too (their
own choice).
I'm scared for the vulnerable. Those who don't watch the 1pm show. Who don't read the latest stats, or listen to "experts". The ones who would prefer to listen to the advice of family, close friends, who find safety and warmth in people they understand and trust, and who also might listen to you.
These lockdowns will come down, very soon. The Government can't sustain this. I too love Jesus. But my heart is breaking for at-risk New Zealanders, some of whom may have co-morbidities, who may live in high density or mobile living situations, which will put them directly in the gun, who may be the first to become ill, or even die, when this virus moves through our wider community. And it will.
If you don't get behind vaccinations, pronto, you will be found to have been part of the cause.
Regarding the jab, I'm doing fine. It hasn't messed with my head, and any risks in doing so are nothing in comparison to fighting for breath like my lungs are full of concrete. Guys, wake up. Fast.
Paul Hames, Auckland.
Enough lockdowns
As a vaccinated Aucklander (and is my entire extended family), I've had enough. We've diligently gone "hard and fast", been vaccinated, isolated, and worn masks. Watching businesses fold, people lose their jobs, children not able to go to school, and people in aged-care facilities right down to pre-schoolers suffer mental anguish at not being able to see friends and relatives. No volunteers can assist in the myriad places we go to help those in need and even my grand-daughter, 2, is being brought up to stand aside when out for a walk and let people pass.
The solution is like other countries — let the vaccinated return to the land of living — restaurants, hairdressers, schools, dentists and retail outlets reopen. The people who choose not to be vaccinated, do not read the NZ Herald or watch the news — the pleas to get vaccinated fall on deaf ears, so let them stay home, buy online and not travel.
Jacinda, let's catch up to the rest of the world and return to our #1 spot in Covid response. Enough is enough.
Esther Haver, Glendowie.
Freedoms in danger
The arrogance and selfishness of Brian Tamaki was evident on Saturday as he and his followers bayed for their freedoms in a rally. Ignoring the rules to control the Covid outbreak, they appeared unconcerned that their actions threaten the freedom of the community to be free of infection. No one likes lockdowns but the sacrifices Aucklanders have made, personally and economically, may be in vain because of this self-indulgent event.
Brian appears to be happy to ignore one of the tenets of his faith "to love thy neighbour as thyself" which surely entails caring for the safety and well-being of others and protecting the vulnerable.
Is it cynical to suggest he is motivated by egotism, a desperate need for publicity and by threats to his income stream as his fundraising church meetings are limited in lockdown?
Susan Howden, Matamata.
Charges must come
It will be interesting to see if police charge Brian Tamaki and his cohorts who were involved in the crowd rally at the museum. If they do not, then all charges should be dropped against people charged over similar actions. There cannot be two justice systems.
Ross Harvey, Remuera.
Stupidity hard to believe
I can't believe people would stupidly protest about lockdown when what they are doing could make lockdown last longer. We all want our freedom but such actions are asking for Covid to spread and lockdowns have to be extended.
Geoffrey Slack, Silverdale.
