Also noted the upcoming restrictions on freedom campers.
We can only wait.
F LAW
Whanganui
Water reform sceptics
Your headline "Mayors wary of being swamped by reforms" (News, July 1) is comforting news to us sceptics about the Three Waters rollout.
May their scepticism resist any persuasive rhetoric from the Minister of Local Government when she addresses the LGNZ Conference in a few days.
As Ruapehu District Council's Don Cameron says: "I probably will ... reserve judgment until we've had a really good chance to understand all the drivers behind the figures."
Who, then, are the drivers? Are they possibly the 200-plus "wealthy overseas investors" recently announced by the PM? More than likely - with RBNZ Governor, Adrian Orr, declaring (June 2) that "deep capital markets" are necessary "to best allocate capital..."
This follows Treasury's model, requested and then approved by Cabinet in 2018. It advocates private (as distinct from Crown) funding for the planned infrastructure pipeline.
Water meters are advocated so that investors can profit from supply – the "levies" to be collected by mysterious SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles).
The debt is thus kept off local government and Crown balance sheets so Fiscal Responsibility Rules can be observed, keeping the Wall Street Credit Rating agencies happy.
Sound complicated? Sure does! Whatever happened to the KISS principle. Seems keeping things simple is too complicated for these "drivers".
HEATHER MARION SMITH
Gonville
Creating disunity
In its latest circular, the Teaching Council Aotearoa New Zealand, under "Quick Mythbusters about Unteach Racism", states, "Unteach Racism is not about separatism, division or blame – it is strengths-based and aims to empower teachers".
There is an old saying (which I've just made up) which states, "You may protest that you are not a donkey but if you look like, smell like and act like a donkey - you ARE a donkey.
In my opinion, your whole "Unteach Racism" drive looks like, smells like and acts like racism.
I could quote various examples from your latest app and resources but publishing space prohibits. In my view, you are pushing for separatism - which is racist by its very definition in a multicultural society like ours!
You do not strive to "empower" teachers but rather to "re-educate" them... and most teachers I know, don't take kindly to being told what to believe because they are thinkers already...
We don't need this ... there are enough other voices seeking to divide and conquer - from the highest echelons in power to the outright "in your face" lobby groups we constantly get harassed by.
This country is in danger of being split up and brought to its knees by not Covid, but disunity!
As citizens and residents of New Zealand/Aotearoa, we need to wake up and stand against any form of racism/separatism and division foisted upon us. Our future stability as a country depends on it!
CALVYN JONKER
Whanganui
