Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post / Letters to the Editor

The Premium Debate: Subscribers react to Richard Prebble’s take on what the real election issue is

Bay of Plenty Times
8 Sep, 2023 04:00 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

The International Monetary Fund predicts that next year, the New Zealand economy will have the second-lowest growth of any country. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The International Monetary Fund predicts that next year, the New Zealand economy will have the second-lowest growth of any country. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Letters to the Editor

OPINION

The International Monetary Fund, in its latest Regional Economic Outlook, predicts that next year, the New Zealand economy will have the second-lowest growth of the 159 nations it surveys, with the only worse-off country being Equatorial Guinea, writes political commentator Richard Prebble in his latest column.

Thoughtful voters know campaign promises depend on the economy.

The IMF projections are a warning. The real issue in this election is, are we to be a nation that rewards hard work and personal responsibility, or a nation that rewards freeloading on the road to Equatorial Guinea?

Read the full story: Richard Prebble: The real election issue – are we a nation that rewards hard work, not freeloading?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Have your say by going to bayofplentytimes.co.nz or dailypost.co.nz and becoming a Premium subscriber.

I would really like the Nats or Act to provide a policy to reduce the number [of people] on “looking for work” [Jobseeker Support] or whatever its name is. Anyone [who’s been receiving it for more than] 12 months instantly has to apply for a strict unemployment benefit. Some may not make the cut - a staged reduction of numbers on this, routing benefit for everyone else. I’m sure there is something to reduce our appalling numbers at the country’s teat.

John H

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.


In reply to John H: Most on the unemployment benefit are unemployable through drink and/or drugs. THC, the active ingredient in grass [marijuana], remains in the system for a long time.

Steve N


The current dire situation with our huge dysfunctional underclass is caused by the social welfare system, [rather than existing] in spite of it.

Now, three or four generations have no idea about working, training, upskilling, studying.

It’s hard to pull out of this mindset when there are no living examples of achievement in the family. Every government in power since the ‘70s is responsible for allowing the benefit system to develop into an easily accessed inter-generational lifestyle.

Kathryn D

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.


In reply to Kathryn D: It’s not as easy to access as inter-generational wealth, which some believe makes them just all-around superior individuals.

If only we could put all babies naked, and colour-blind, at the same starting line. Give them all exactly the same opportunities or, indeed, disadvantages.

Then we’d really sort the wheat from the chaff.

Jod M


Richard’s 100 per cent correct - Labour is offering nothing that is effective or tangible.

Just a wishlist that everyone knows is never going to get past being just that.

In six years, they have demonstrated and achieved no better outcomes, nor have they improved the lives of the people of NZ. Just the opposite.

Tony P


The fact of the matter is that the Labour Party thrives on the support of those who are given benefits in times of adversity.

I have absolutely no issue with the payment of benefits to people in hardship. Unfortunately, Labour is feeding inter-generational dependency on welfare.

There appears no desire for the party to cull those who have never had a desire to earn an honest wage for an honest day’s work.

Labour continues to fund the welfare lifestyle. The issue stems from Labour drawing support from these voters.

Working For Families and other support payments are abused by many who are not deserving of them.

Any past attempts to wean people off the benefit culture will always be overturned by Labour governments.

I will never, ever support a Labour government, ever.

Ernest S

Republished comments may be edited at the editor’s discretion.

The Rotorua Daily Post and the Bay of Plenty Times welcome letters from readers. Please note the following:

  • Letters should not exceed 200 words.
  • They should be opinions based on facts or current events.
  • If possible, please email.
  • No noms-de-plume.
  • Letters will be published with names and suburb/city.
  • Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only.
  • Local letter writers are given preference.
  • Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged.
  • Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor’s discretion.
  • The Editor’s decision on publication is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Email editor@dailypost.co.nz or editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz.

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

'Do what's right': Shaken witness' call after hit-and-run

16 Jun 01:59 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

BoP dairy targeted by armed robbers

16 Jun 01:00 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Police cordon on Edmund Rd, Rotorua

The woman behind NZ’s first PAK’nSAVE

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'Do what's right': Shaken witness' call after hit-and-run

'Do what's right': Shaken witness' call after hit-and-run

16 Jun 01:59 AM

A motorbike overtook a car and hit a pedestrian on Edmund Rd.

BoP dairy targeted by armed robbers

BoP dairy targeted by armed robbers

16 Jun 01:00 AM
Police cordon on Edmund Rd, Rotorua

Police cordon on Edmund Rd, Rotorua

'You can’t come in smoking your meth pipe': Lifewise CEO calls for crisis centre

'You can’t come in smoking your meth pipe': Lifewise CEO calls for crisis centre

15 Jun 06:00 PM
How one volunteer makes people feel seen
sponsored

How one volunteer makes people feel seen

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP