Taking stock
Gratitude is not something you expect in politics. And your columnist Andrew Barnes seem to subscribe to this view.
As New Zealand enters the Christmas and New Year season, we are able to take stock of the pandemic so far:
- Fewer than 50 deaths from Covid over two years, a
rate less than 1 per cent of that recorded in almost any other country.
- An economic performance as good as any, including growth and low unemployment.
- Internal restrictions on behaviour among the lowest, when taken over the pandemic to date.
- Frequent media briefings and full-scale accountability, including inquiries and robust media scrutiny.
- Vaccination rates reaching 90 per cent for all ethnic groups in Auckland, and soon likely 95 per cent.
- A whole-of-system immunisation system built from scratch, and vaccine passes, verifiers, and mandates developed quickly.
- And a hospital and wider health system that to date has been spared being overwhelmed as witnessed in most jurisdictions overseas.
Of course there have been errors and missteps, but these pale into insignificance compared to those recorded in other countries and for which almost nobody has been held to account for often monumental, and fateful, policy errors.
Peter Davis, Kingsland.
Long-Covid sufferers
It puzzles me why there is almost no public focus on the fact that Covid-19 is a profoundly systemic disease, and that its impacts mean that the world is facing a long-term public healthcare crisis. The death count is but one small part of the picture - there are now millions around the world suffering from long-Covid, even from mild cases.
We have many commentators insisting that we must learn to live with the virus, treating Covid-19 as just another cold or flu, that for many is just sniffles that we get over. Thus we should reduce our attention to case counts, and limit our concerns to hospitalisations and ICU capacity.
However, Covid-19 attacks vascular cells all through the body, not just the lungs, leaving many recovered sufferers with long-term organ and neurological damage. Covid-19 is not just a normal seasonal respiratory disease, but a dangerous disease which we should do all in our power to avoid, by a combination of vaccines and ongoing public health measures to minimise widespread impacts.
Peter Wharton, Pt Chevalier.
Covid and borders
With 1360 cases in New South Wales [on Wednesday] from the variant Omicron, and cases predicted to double every two to three days, Christopher Luxon is still critical of Labour for failing to open the New Zealand border before Christmas. Sick, dead or home-isolating people will do nothing for the hospitality industry! At present we have no Omicron cases which is fortunate as very few of us have had a booster shot for protection.
Northland is still paying dearly due to the refusal of many to do their part and get vaccinated, holding businesses and the rest of us to ransom. A big shout out to those locals and the police dedicated in helping at the border, in order to keep the errant, local unvaxxed from becoming infected and flooding our hospitals or health centres.
Instead of pronouncing them "thugs" why didn't David Seymour get out and help? Easy to referee from the opposition sideline David!
All those on the political right worship for Christmas is the mighty dollar!
Marie Kaire, Whangārei.
Tax system
Our tax system is one of the worst among developed countries for low-income earners. We are the only country without a capital gains tax. We are probably the only country except the United States that levies income tax from the first dollar.
For example, in Australia, the first A$18,200 is not taxed. Tax saving for a median wage earner of $1600.
We are probably the only country that levies GST on food or does not have a concessionary rate. The food bill is around $200 per week for a family of three, an annual GST saving of approximately $1500. Again if you compare with Australia, where GST is only 10 per cent, the total GST saved would be roughly $2000.
For a family of three with two partners on a median wage, the Australian tax bill would be $5000 lighter. Crossing the ditch would be an attractive proposition, even before considering other factors like higher wages, higher pay when you work extra hours and weekends, lower housing costs etc.
Kushlan Sugathapala, Epsom.
Abuse of workers
It was sad and disturbing to see John Campbell's TV1 report on the abuse some frontline workers have to endure whilst trying to do their jobs. It's unconscionable that people who go to work every day to help receive threats, insults, and most disturbingly, racial slurs. This front line comprised of health workers, police, and service providers are doing essential work, and need to be given our respect and thanks. Times are hard right now and in our Covid world, anxiety and stress can sometimes dominate. But here in New Zealand being kind, whilst not a default position, is also not difficult. We're not experiencing the same level of suffering and anguish as the rest of the world, so before you lash out, pause a moment and think what society would look like without these workers. Is that an Aotearoa you want to live in?
Mary Hearn, Glendowie.
