Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, left, and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins arriving for another update at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Minister Chris Hipkins say the vaccine roll-out is proceeding well at 8 per cent ahead of plan. What this figure diguises is the poor performance by Auckland Public Health, comprised of our three metropolitan DHBs. Currently they are 7 per cent behind
their plan, missing targets by several thousand each week recently.
When you consider these three DHB's cover over one third of the population it shows that most the rest of the country is way more than 8 per cent ahead of their plan. Well done to them.
Waitematā DHB, the largest in the country, is a classic case of this underperformance. On the North Shore - population more than 300,000 - they have one "mass vaccination centre" in Birkenhead.
The vaccination throughput is very low, reportedly it is fully booked until late July. Where are the community vaccination centres so a real start can be made on the over 80's, let alone the over 65's promised by the government to be under way in May?
When will Bloomfield and Hipkins admit the problem and address Auckland as the most susceptible area to border incursions with most international flights and quarantine facilities?
Patrick O'Rourke, Sunnynook.
Feeling blue
Patrick Grant (NZ Herald, May 26) and other Whangaparāoa (Whale Bay) correspondents and residents, including myself, are being reasonable in seeking an explanation for the failure of the Government to provide a Covid-19 vaccination venue nearby.
However, we must remember to be kind.
The fact that there is such a large predominance of elderly people in the area, making it easier to increase the percentage of those vaccinated Is too obvious.
The fact that we have a very good record for being law-abiding and raised children to be law-abiding and we have excellent work credentials is not relevant.
Is it an explanation however, that - apart from Labour-voting Birkenhead which seems to have a Covid centre on its doorstep - the area north of the Harbour Bridge in the main does not support the current Government at election time?
Dail Jones, Stanmore Bay.
Fair pay agreements
If fair pay agreements are to work, they will require a shift in attitudes traditionally seen in industrial bargaining.
The new regime gives unions leeway to intervene in areas where they do not currently have members and to improve on minimum wages and conditions for industry sectors.
The emphasis for both unions and employers should be to jointly work towards long term sustainability in their industries, including the building of career paths to attract new talent. This may include better remuneration, but also a move to different models in sectors dependent on an ever-ageing workforce, and in danger of becoming moribund.
A good example is the current dispute between Wellington Bus and the Tramways Union. The last tram in Wellington ran in 1964: the fact that the union has retained the name suggests it is holding out for a second coming of the tramway system, or mired in the traditions and thinking of the 1960s.
We do not want a return to the "good old days" of arbitration court interventions and annual Cook Strait ferry and freezing works strikes, which the proposed fair pay agreement structure could unwittingly encourage.
Duncan Simpson, Albany.
Recognition overdue
Four very brave Kiwi soldiers saved the lives of two Australian tank crew in 1971.
At the time only one was recognised for bravery: Lance-Corporal John Adams MM (now deceased).
Aussie and Kiwi defence force politics and then government politics, have refused to right a wrong for 50 years.
However, the Australians have now written a "commendation letter" thanking the three for their efforts in saving the lives of their two tank crew.
Their letter from the Australian Veterans Affairs Minister, and other bits, mounted in a frame was presented to the families of the two now deceased, Bill Papuni and John Gally and the one surviving, Mike Williams, at the Auckland War Memorial Museum 10 days ago.
As a fellow soldier serving with these guys, I attended.
Though the thanks from the Aussies is great, and is all that they can do now; NZ should do more.
Unfortunately, as with the injustice leading up to Tribute 08 protest march, there are times our Defence Force becomes our enemy.
Duncan Munro, Clevedon.
Closures lamented
IHC is taking a claim to the Human Rights Commission that all children should have the right to education in their local school. It seems ironic.
IHC itself states that it "respects people's rights as citizens and supports them to live a life that closely resembles that of their peers. This has been the basis of IHC's advocacy for more than 70 years."
Until 2010, IHC provided work for those in its care, either in special workshops or in day centres doing contract work. In both cases, people received pay envelopes. In 2010 IHC closed all its workshops and contract work, causing severe hurt to many.
In place of workshops, IHC had day centres where people in its care spent their time from Monday to Friday. A variety of activities took the place of paid work, and these were generally happy places. However, in June last year, IHC permanently closed all its day centres. A Herald article by Natalie Akoorie described the hurt this caused.
IHC's people now live drab lives, centred around their houses, a style of living that no longer "closely resembles that of their peers". It could hardly be more different.
Laurie Wesley, Birkenhead.
A fell wind
With the rampant, uncontrolled annihilation of trees on private land in every suburb in Auckland happening every day (including protected trees), it is utterly unfathomable that Auckland Council decided to take a chainsaw to the Western Springs forest.
The needless destruction of over 300 mature trees, as well as a lot of regenerated native undergrowth, because of the extremely remote risk of falling branches causing injury, is akin to purposefully burning the entire forest down to avoid a bushfire.
It's utter madness. And in a time of absolute crisis for trees in Auckland, inexcusable. Aucklanders begged them not to yet $50,000 a week in security costs alone was spent to keep concerned Aucklanders away from the scene.
The Ministry for the Environment needs to bring back tree protection today. Tomorrow is too late and will leave an unforgivable legacy for our tamariki and mokopuna. Māna rakau.
Charlie Haddrell, Greenlane.
Cable cars
Auckland's Unitary Plan is seeing housing built with very little garaging, forcing cars onto the roadside for night parking.
The New Zealand Government is keen to support the uptake of electric vehicles with a view towards a net-zero emissions economy.
Electric cars are at the forefront of this initiative. How are these cars going to be charged?
Are we going to see a proliferation of electric cables snaking out of high-rise windows like pythons snaking across the footpath?
Rosemary Balme, Howick.
Cold comfort
I'm sure Randel Case (NZ Herald, May 27) and others, who survived the cold and damp by wearing layers of clothes to bed, also walked five miles barefoot in the snow to school every day.
Come on people, let's make things better for children in 2021 by providing them with better conditions than we suffered through in the 60s or earlier.
Families these days are worse off than we ever were, and yes, I did grow up in state housing in the 60s.
Laura Strachan, Titirangi.
Suck seeds
I can sympathise with Mervyn King (NZ Herald, May 28) regarding the non-germination of parsnip seeds. I planted two rows, not one germinated. So tried the seed tape - same outcome.
The rows were covered with wire netting so not even the birds were dining out.
The local nursery had no answer to the problem either. However, the carrots are doing very well.
Margaret Wyatt, Matua.
On parsnips
Regarding the failure of parsnip seeds, I am finding the same with carrot seeds. Julie Pearce, Matamata.
On boots
Nice boots displayed in Viva magazine (NZ Herald, May 26). Nice price too, topping $1629. Headlined alongside was "Walk On By". Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.
On Samoa
Despite what good he may have done during 22 years of service, Samoa's outgoing PM will now be remembered for refusing to leave office gracefully. Ian Brady, Titirangi.
On Prebble
Richard tells it how it is, warts and all of the shortcomings of the present Labour Government, in housing, the economy, the Covid-19 response and the Reserve Bank. Always a pleasure to read, it shows he is still thinking. Garry Larsen, St Heliers.
On vaccine
The Government seems to be most complacent in not accelerating the roll-out and sticking with unambitious targets. Until we have a much larger proportion of the population vaccinated we are at serious risk of further lockdowns and loss of life. Lucas Bonne, Unsworth Heights.
As in the USA and UK, pharmacies, general practitioners and other clinics should be enlisted now to substantially increase the inoculation rate to get the job done now. Peter Burn, Gulf Harbour.
On winter
General Winter is once again marshalling his gloomy army. Fortunately the cheerful and beautiful waxeyes have just returned to our area to take up their winter quarters and lighten the dark days ahead. Welcome back. Brian Byrne, St Heliers.
Protesters tore flags, including those representing Islam and the UN.