Dann right in riposte over gripes
"Extremely disappointing" and "not commercially meaningful" say the meat and dairy industries associations (Weekend Herald, July 2), about their share of the NZ/EU trade deal just signed.
"No reason to be," says Herald business editor Liam Dann in the same issue in an
intelligent analysis of the deal, which supports and details the Government's negotiations, and the pragmatism surrounding its signing.
He says meat and dairy have lost nothing by it, have gained somewhat instead, and are trading profitably generally in all export markets. And that holding out (for predictably little more) was unwise, considering the volatile, extremely uncertain state of the world.
Thank you, Liam, for a valuable, cogent, and most comprehensive breakdown of the EU deal.
Clyde Scott, Birkenhead.
Well done, health system
A few days ago, I visited our local medical centre and saw a conscientious and thorough doctor. My suspicions of having Covid-19 were confirmed. An admirable series of events resulted — I was given a ventilator and taught how to use it (it rescued me from drowning the next night). Next, a phone contact from Warkworth took myself and my wife under her wing with phone calls daily.
The rapid antigen tests supplied through our equally helpful local chemist proved my wife also had Covid. A pulse oximeter also arrived. We have an ID number on the Covid response register. In amongst all the angst generated towards them, I wish to report my appreciation of the support the Government health system has provided despite huge stress and workload.
Ian Walker, Mangawhai.
Flu idea a bit much
Epidemiologist Michael Baker wants mandatory isolation for those who get influenza, suggesting a seven-day stay-at-home order be looked at. Exactly how this would be implemented could be interesting. People who have flu should stay home until they're well but to mandate this seems a step too far. A special taskforce, and all that implies, would be needed, millions more would be spent on monitoring the public when all that is needed is for people to use their sense. Unfortunately, today, common sense seems in short supply.
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
Concrete jungle
Auckland home owners who have created a garden paradise fear developers will move in next door and build six or eight 3 or 4-storeyed abominations. These cast a shadow over neighbouring properties, stifling all the life within it and halving value or even less.
Future generations gazing on Auckland's ever-expanding concrete jungle epitaph may well ask "where have all the flowers gone?"
What's worse this Government has similar plans for all of our major cities. If there is ever a cause for protesters on the Beehive grounds for a vote of no confidence in the Government then high rise, high-density housing must be it.
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
Fixing our hospitals
Recent publicity has highlighted our public healthcare system is under duress. The excessive demands on state hospitals are due to Government's endeavour to "go it alone".
The growth of private hospitals is the key to alleviating the burden imposed on the state's responsibility. The reintroduction of tax deductibility for health insurance costs can encourage independence in private hospital use for many surgical needs and other medical treatments and free up beds in state hospitals as a consequence.
This independence should be encouraged and in tandem with increased private hospital development would do much to minimise Government's role and limit their huge financial commitment.
P J Edmondson, Tauranga.
