Lifesaving rations
The latest Auckland Council newsletter tells us the council sponsors the Museum of Transport and Technology to the tune of $15 million and gives Coastguard Northern Region $700,000. Coastguard saves lives.
The council provides for the Auckland Festival Trust with over $3m, but gives Surf Life Saving Northern Region $1.26m. Surf Life Saving saves lives.
It gives WaterSafe Auckland Inc $1m in spite of the fact that our drowning rate steadily increases every year, yet gives the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust $450,000. The Westpac Helicopter saves lives. Who sets these priorities?
John Walsh, Green Bay.
Universities' wins
I have read the article about the 1977 Lions side in which historian Clive Akers describes the Universities' win as "history making for the scarfies". History was already made when the Universities beat the Springboks in 1956. Their heavy defeat in 1965 was caused by playing most of the match with 12 players as injured players could not be replaced. Significantly, the injured were either All Blacks or ex All Blacks.
Gary Ireland, Hamilton.
Land Rover driver
Ben Ainslie's GBR (great boat ramming) Team are aptly sponsored by Land Rover, a vehicle designed to drive rough-shod over almost anything in its path. Modern Land Rovers have much more sophisticated bodywork, suitable for running children to school and for picking up the fish and chips on Friday evenings; but would Ben be able to carry out these tasks without injuring somebody?
Hugh Webb, Huntington.
Honest donation
Congratulations to Robert Smellie, QC, who has given a large donation to a political party, saying: "As a practising Anglican I see socialism as being far closer to the Gospel than free enterprise." No disputing that message, no hidden donation, just good up-front honesty. Would it not be good if prominent members of other religious groups, in particular those that claim special tax status because of their religious beliefs, followed such an example? We don't seem to be able to rely on religious organisations to inform us of their honest intentions with our tax dollars.
R Harpur, Tokoroa.
Paying for Ateed
Perhaps Grant Webster, chief executive of the Tourism Industry Association, could explain how all Auckland residents benefit from expenditure on tourism. Most of us are not employed in the sector. We cannot claim GST on rates payments or reduce our tax liability by the amount paid in rates. If the tourism industry does not feel it is getting value for money or does not believe in "user pays", the proposed investment should be cancelled. We would all be richer if the council liquidated Ateed.
The annual $67m subsidies from the council and others could be applied to raising living standards and Maori social and economic well-being, these being the only two areas where Ateed sees itself making a primary contribution to the Auckland Plan.L. D. Slee, Shelly Park.
Hotels' plea on bed tax
Is Grant Webster of Tourism Holdings talking about the same hoteliers and moteliers who have previously and recently doubled and trebled their bed prices for a captive audience for sport and other major events? How does he equate a couple of dollars' bed tax on a customer with the extortion his members practise during these events? If that has no negative effect on tourism, a small bed tax is of no consequence.
Tom O'Toole, Taumarunui.
Gender toys
I started school many years ago, I am now in my 80s. Just before the war in Mitcham, Surrey, I was 5 years old and in my first class we were asked to get an activity to play with. There were beads along a rod for girls and a little hammer and blocks with a hole in the middle and a nail to knock into a cork base for boys.
The boys' toy appealed to me much more than beads, so I started hammering away. I was severely reprimanded, smacked and made to stand in a corner. How times have changed for the better.
Heather Campbell, Devonport.
Clark's next mission
To the lady just home from the United Nations focusing on making New Zealand smoke free by 2025: our politicians are riding the popular wave of legalising marijuana smoking. A little late in my view, counting the wasted taxpayers' money and considering the addiction rate is less than half that of alcohol.
Perhaps she can focus on making us all vegetarians by 2031, or join the club on gender-neutral school toilets or, better, focus on nothing at all.
M. Weber, Ohope.
Vaccination
I wonder what Janice Waitere-Cross's walk round an old cemetery proves. One of those graves she visited may have been of my wife's cousin, a healthy 9-month-old baby girl who died a few days after receiving the meningitis vaccine. As a result of this, my wife was never vaccinated and she has not died from disease.
Ashley Clarke, Beach Haven.
Freedom of choice
I was concerned to read the editorial that criticised the freedom of choice being used by those who decide not vaccinate their children. We all want what is best for our children and many people do a significant amount of research before making a decision relating to their health, or the health of their children.
To label or insult people for the decisions they make, or to assume someone is misinformed or selfish does not help this debate. Emotive language is not helpful. We should ask questions and encourage respectful and intelligent discussion on the perceived benefits and risks of vaccinations. To discourage discussion or to take away the freedom to choose on matters of health, would be a risky path to go down.
Leonie Guy Hankins, Dargaville.
Library redundancies
Everyday I feel increasingly compelled to write about the atrocious circumstances facing our librarians. I am surprised your excellent investigative journalists haven't blown the whole thing wide open. What about our elected councillors, why aren't they speaking up on the unjust issues?
We teach our kids if they're told by an adult to keep a secret, something's wrong. Why are we keeping silent?
People who have done nothing but serve us are being kicked to the kerb. Where's the support they were promised? Where's the PSA, for goodness' sake?
Tina Voordouw, Conifer Grove.
No use for classes here
I always enjoy Lizzie Marvelly's comments and observations and last Saturday's article on the political position of "white men" was interesting and very topical. But I was unhappy about the constant use of the term "middle-class". In New Zealand Aotearoa we do not have a class system.
It is unfortunately true that in common with most countries we have a society divided along socio-economic lines, but not divided by the Old World class system. That was left behind by our forefathers and we do not wish to have it re-established here. My plea is for the media to abandon totally the terms lower, middle and upper class.
James Cameron, Howick.
What use "diversity"
Lizzie Marvelly and numerous other correspondents and commentators claim gender, ethnicity, religion and cultural factors make a group or organisation "better". I presume "better" means better decisions across the board.
I have never seen any evidence of this. No evidence is ever presented that women make inherently better decisions. Most female business or political leaders make decisions effectively identical (bad and good) to their male counterparts Margaret Thatcher, for example.
Bill Carlin, Glendowie.
