Whanganui letters: 'Protesters your children will one day judge you, as I do, with contempt'

A small group of Voices for Freedom anti-vaccine protesters gathered outside Whanganui's Cullinane College. Photo / Bevan Conley

The recent intimidation of high school children by anti-vaccination protesters timed to take place when students had no parental protection or intervention, was not noble caring for others.

It was pure self interest.

In my opinion, they made students feel their school is unsafe.

Stood outside, yelling, waving placards at everyone's children, forcing the school's staff into an unenviable position.

The protesters believe us incapable of making the right choice despite us all having equal access to information.

The protesters are not freedom-fighters or activists.

These are the same kind of people who burn books, called Darwin a heretic, accused Galileo of sedition.

Protesters, your children will one day judge you, as I do, with contempt, now animosity, for trying to stop personal freedom.

So you wanted to publicly display your social conscience?

Do so by staying away from public places where we all risk infection due to your elected non-vaccination.

Soon, responsible groups, clubs and businesses will ask for proof of vaccination before granting membership or entry.

A requirement in many countries and most airlines.

Covid is coming … ready or not.

Best of luck when our borders are breached, or open.

KAREN KIRIWAI M WILLIAMS
Whanganui

Ratepayer respect

The Victoria Ave street revamp article (News, August 30) is evidence of how little the council respects its ratepayers.

These businesses have been paying high commercial rates over many years, plus businesses' losses through these troubled times mean they should have been the number one stakeholder to be listened to.

We are still in the grips of Covid and business is struggling to recover and yet the council has approved denying parking for the regular supporters, who stand by the businesses to encourage them to keep the shop doors open.

Councillors, from where you sit, do you see private enterprise spending up large or is it that ratepayers are an easy take?

Show some thought for those in the Whanganui District Council community who pay higher rates than in a number of cities around New Zealand, and show some consideration for the emotional stress your decisions make on people, especially in our current environment.

LES WRIGHT
Whanganui

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