Landlords selling their houses, to increase the supply, to lower house prices, does not solve the housing affordability problem.
Investing can be a back-up plan for the future, when your job involves manual, physical labour that eventually health or age, will prevent the ability to earn an income.
A good landlord will provide warm, healthy and well maintained homes for people to live in when the average income and housing price hinders the Kiwi dream of home ownership.
When people aren't in a position to buy a house, landlords can provide a cheaper alternative, as everyone needs a roof over their head.
[Abridged]
Tracey McLeod
Lake Tarawera
No consultation
As a keen trout fisherman I always look forward to the excellent update we are provided with every weekend by the Rotorua Daily Post's fishing guru, Bert Robinson.
This week's article was somewhat foreboding, with the headline - 'Lack of consultation over new bill a slap in the face' - where he highlights the Governments proposed amendment to the Conservation Act.
Basically, this new amendment is intended to provide better protection for indigenous fish such as galaxids, whitebait, eels, bullies, torrent fish, koura and other species.
However, the trade-off is that trout and salmon will be allowed to be removed from particular rivers and lakes, even if they are significant ones - such as our Rotorua catchment.
Furthermore, it also proposes to include trout being part of Treaty settlements with iwi, and even opens up the possibility of allowing the sale of trout.
As Bert points out, this amendment has been submitted without consultation with Fish & Game, which has been the real guardians of the trout stocks nationally for over 50 years.
It is critical as many of us passionate anglers as possible take the issue up directly with our local MPs, ministers etc.
It would also be interesting to hear each of our three local MPs' opinions on this issue.
[Abridged]
Mike McVicker
Rotorua
