Your Views: Readers' letters

I struggle to understand how such a policy could be considered fair and reasonable or is indeed productive in progressing both Australia's and New Zealand's interests. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Australian reforms most unfair

Our family of five are all special category visa holders. We have lived in Australia since 2001. Our oldest two children were aged 2 and 4 when they came. They were entirely educated in Australia. Only our youngest child who was born in Australia is eligible for Australian citizenship.

My daughter is studying at the University of Melbourne planning to do a masters in architecture and engineering. This is her first year of some six years of study. We are already stretched in funding her university education by living interstate.

If her right to a commonwealth supported place was abolished, the additional costs will be prohibitive - despite living in Australia since she was two years of age and has been entirely educated in Australia.

If these reforms are approved by the Australian Parliament, my son and daughter will be facing their futures at a significant disadvantage to their peers. I struggle to understand how such a policy could be considered fair and reasonable or is indeed productive in progressing both Australia's and New Zealand's interests.

This policy will succeed only in fermenting resentment and in curbing the opportunities for a significant number of young New Zealanders on both sides of the Tasman. I fail to understand why we as New Zealanders living in Australia, and those who travel from New Zealand to study, are being treated as rank outsiders in Australia. I would hope these plans receive strong opposition from the New Zealand Government.

Andrew Moss, Sydney.

Embarrassed

I am currently on holiday in New Zealand and spent time at a delightful Anzac Day service where Australian troops were highly recognised, our anthem was played and many New Zealanders sang this along with us, as true allies. New Zealanders speak very highly of Australia and regard us as a loyal friendly nation.

Now, to have our Government decide to withdraw subsidies for New Zealand citizens enrolling in tertiary courses in Australia is downright insulting, ignorant and disrespectful to our neighbours.

It makes the decision worse when we're spending millions on aid to other countries who frankly don't care two hoots about us and never will. We may never hear New Zealanders say kia ora to us again.

Anne Lindsay, Stanthorpe, Queensland.

Customer retaliation

Australia's discriminatory move against Kiwi residents is just the latest in a long string of injustices over many years. Remember their last minute refusal to allow Air New Zealand to operate domestically within Australia while at the same time competing aggressively here. Think about the 10 year trumped up illegal ban on our apple exports that took an action by the United Nations to finally remedy.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand we welcome Australians to live and work here and that is as it should be. However, the Australian Government does need to show us some respect and elements of a 'fair go'. New Zealand represents a large and valuable market for Australia and their large banks alone send some $4.5 billion of trading profit from New Zealand across the ditch.

Large Australian retailers, almost universally claiming to offer the 'lowest prices guaranteed', also dominate the landscape. My method of addressing this gross injustice by the Australian Government is to boycott Australian companies. I've already dumped my Australian bank and am now happily ensconced with Kiwibank. I avoid Countdown and Harvey Norman. I feel much better thinking that at least I am doing something. Our Government won't.

Bill Mathews, Saint Mary's Bay.

Stop selling them

It would seem the robberies of dairies and liquor outlets are primarily caused by the needs of people who are dependent on smoking and alcohol. Maybe the most effective way to deal with the problem is to remove the products from these retail outlets. It may mean that some dairies and most liquor outlets would probably have to close. Would that be a bad thing? I am not sure why dairy owners cannot see the obvious.

Bill Cromwell, Welcome Bay.

Newspapers' value

I am concerned about the Commerce Commission's decline of the proposal to merge Fairfax and NZME. How sad that budget constraints are overwhelming newspapers all over the world. I do believe the printed word is very convenient and needs to be available to political activists and lovers of democracy who are financially disadvantaged versus the financially advantaged ones succeeding so well in our free market economy. The newspaper is still a powerful source of information.

If we do end up with one newspaper operation for the country we could look into the fairness doctrine that has sometimes been in effect in Canada and America according to political mood.

This doctrine required that a diversity of viewpoints be presented and that reporting be "honest, equitable, and balanced". We could have a similar fairness doctrine but apply it to newspaper media. This would serve the purposes of democracy and foster more robust debate.

Caroline Mabry, Glen Eden.

Meeting Snell

In the 1960s I experienced the daunting prospect of often competing against the Olympic gold medallist, Peter Snell, in cross-country and road races in Auckland and Hamilton. Also, a little daunting was the prospect of meeting him at the table tennis venue at the recent World Masters Games.

Given the demands on his time - people wanting to shake his hand, the Press and TV, would I even get to meet up with him? In addition, would he autograph the recent book: Peter Snell and the Kiwis Who Flew, or would he be too focused on his games of table tennis?

I need not have been concerned. In between his many games he generously gave what was precious time away from his busy schedule. We chatted and recalled the races of yesteryear. And, yes, he autographed the book. I came away from my last meeting with him very happy.

Vern Walker, Green Bay.

Visitors' experience

While New Zealand is receiving record numbers of visitors from overseas, I think tourism stake holders should be very conscious of what this country offers visitors. Our unique landscape and climate, and the hospitable people to be found everywhere one travels, make this a great destination.

I have travelled widely overseas over the last 20 years. I was taken by surprise during a recent holiday in the South Island. The warm welcome, the helpfulness and interest in the visitors was noticeable everywhere we went. There is no price for this.

Crowded mountain tracks, over-priced hotels and other problems all can be resolved if tourism operators and Government departments involved in tourism remember what New Zealand offers.

This country is not a cheap destination but a unique place, peopled with a civil, friendly population. The experience is worth a lifetime of good memories. It is not to be undersold.

Margaret Malan, Greenlane.

List seats

Your correspondent Bruce Eliott's letter on "seat warming list MP's" didn't go far enough. Support for proportional representation is fine but it is the application of it in New Zealand that is so very wrong.

Given that all MPs generally have to adhere to the party line, why not go back to elected MPs only, then simply award the additional proportional votes to the party leader? No more money sucking, publicity seeking, useless, one eyed, one trick ponies who have zero electorate responsibilities.

If a party can't win a single electorate, it doesn't deserve to be involved in running the country, which might mean better candidates for minor parties.

Ray Green, Birkenhead.

Electorate failure

Your correspondents who get exercised by the number of list MPs might like to consider when voting this year that Andrew Little has always failed in his attempts to convince an electorate to vote for him and, in fact, hugely increased National's majority in New Plymouth. By comparison, Bill English held his electorate seat for 24 years.

The Greens unashamedly make little effort to win even one seat so their whole party is made up of list MPs, with no responsibilities at all in return for their highly paid sinecures.

New Zealand First can manage only one electorate seat and it is dubious whether any of their list MPs could run a credible campaign.

Bea Braun, Hamilton.