Your views: Readers' letters

River diversion: The Whanganui should flow to the sea past Landguard Bluff (at left) and the airport, says Murray Shaw. Photo/File

GP funding

In response to a Chronicle story on March 9, Whanganui District Health Board notes the article incorrectly referred to "removal of subsidies from the Ministry of Health". The reason this is incorrect is that general practices can choose to opt in and out of the VLCA funding scheme.

GP practices with more than 50 per cent high-need patients can choose to become a very low cost access (VLCA) practice. High need includes Maori and Pacific populations, and people who live in high-need areas.

This entitles practices to receive an additional funding subsidy from the Ministry of Health to offer patients reduced fees.

The maximum fee for VLCA practices is $18 per visit during normal business hours. The reduced fees apply to all patients of the practice, regardless of whether they are high-need. Castlecliff Health has approximately 80 per cent of patients categorised as high-need.

Castlecliff Health approached the health board seeking approval to use the VLCA funding for their high-need patients only. While the health board supports the approach that funding be allocated to those most at need, we explained that Government policy requires that VLCA funding is applied across everyone enrolled in the practice.

It is unfortunate that Castlecliff Health wrote to patients before options could be explored through their primary health organisation, the National Hauora Coalition (NHC).

The NHC has highlighted the inequities in primary care funding. Its report demonstrated evidence that some practices are struggling to remain financially viable due to large numbers of Maori, Pacific and poor patients.

While it is disappointing that patient fees have been raised, the NHC believes primary care funding arrangements pose an unfair cost burden on these practices, which ultimately leaves them unsustainable, both fiscally and clinically.

TRACEY SCHIEBLI
General Manager Service and Business Planning, Whanganui District Health Board

No dredging

I am not sure what Garth Scown (letters, March 25) is on about, as I have never advocated dredging as a viable option for the port.

Indeed, it is my opinion that if the council doesn't divert the river outlet away from the port, silting will be a permanent problem with the harbour basin, necessitating continuous dredging, which will result in the port never being economically viable.

It is my opinion that the river outlet needs to be diverted to run past Landguard Bluff and the airport, and be wide enough to accommodate the increased flows of 200-year floods, the North Mole be extended at least one kilometre out into the bight to move the bar into deeper water, and the South Mole to be moved to widen the port entrance, thus allowing the use of bigger ships.

For the diversion of the river outlet, I expect the City Council to work with Horizons to partner in the costs, as the diversion would also take pressure off the flood management work that Horizons is undertaking by improving the ability of flood waters to escape to the sea and thus be a more effective use of ratepayers funds.

MURRAY SHAW
Whanganui

Social demise

Frank Greenall, in his Chronicle column, asks if New Zealand's shocking social demise started with the sacking of the unions.

I believe he has hit the nail fair and square on the head.

I was a mid-management engineer in the '80s when Muldoon started his epic battle and eventual sacking of the boilermakers' union.

Roger Douglas followed shortly after with his "user pays" policies, which saw the demise of most other unions and institutions like the riggers, scaffolders, DSIR, Ministry of Works, Labour Department and many others that bound the NZ workforce together and kept us honest and safe.

I often cursed these "jumped-up officials" who stopped us cutting corners, but I would be the first to agree that they were vital, especially for our "Kiwi number 8 wire" methods.

Without these policemen of industry, the vultures moved in, and we have seen the results in our nation's social decline, in the Pike River tragedy and the sale of NZ to the highest bidder by politicians.

Well done, Frank. How do we fix it?

ROB BUTCHER
Aramoho

NP protest

I note Judith Collins' description of the New Plymouth protesters as "disrespectful". She is absolutely right!

The 200 or so of us present held no respect for the Government-supported plans for more prospecting and drilling for oil. On the other hand, we held enormous respect for the view of the overwhelming number of scientists who tell us the only way to avoid catastrophic climate change is to dramatically reduce our fossil fuel use.

For those present at the New Plymouth rally, the latter respect was far larger than that for the right of people to attend a conference.

The issue of "respect" is not a trivial one, of course. The tensions around it have been present at all the protests throughout history.

No doubt there was plenty of mention of respect and the lack of it when women were protesting about not being able to vote. There was certainly a great deal said during the 1981 Springbok tour about the protesters not respecting the right of people to attend rugby matches.

The national freedom movements throughout history have all involved protesters/rebels not respecting the oppressive laws imposed on them. It could be argued that many of the historical gains in human freedoms have come about through a withdrawal of "respect".

Incidentally, returning to the New Plymouth event, I was struck by the mutual respect shown by members of the various groups present -- protesters, police, conference delegates, members of the public. I spoke with and listened to many, and there was a wide appreciation for the point that the rally was making.

The "scuffle" at the event referred to in your Chronicle article was a tiny part of what took place.

Protests will go on while such huge issues are at stake.

PHILIP MCCONKEY
Palmerston North

Stars shine

On March 24 I had the great pleasure to be at the 1000 Stars event of the Sarjeant Gallery.

This event was hosted for all the 1000 Stars of Whanganui and beyond.

We came into the beautiful space of our Sarjeant on the Quay, adorned with all the works from the recent arts review, decorated and transformed by the Sarjeant staff into an inviting cocktail party space.

Greg Anderson and all the speakers gave us the great news: Only a little longer and we all would have achieved the magic number of $35 million.

The room was filled with pride and enthusiasm towards the Sarjeant Gallery. An achievement of the community and great generous sponsors. Since the beginning of the fundraising, every year I had the feeling we all come closer together with one goal, and that is to keep Whanganui's icon thriving and protected for future generations.

Anne Pattillo's generous sponsorship was announced to be increased by 100 per cent to $20,000 -- per year.

So I thought, we 1000 Stars are giving a minimum of $5 per week, so why not follow the lead of Anne and increase our sponsorship 100 per cent and give $10 per week? Most of us can afford that, and it would help to come closer to the final number.

This evening I went home and changed my automatic payment straight away. Thank God for internet banking, because if I do it right away, I won't forget.

Just food for thought.

PS: Last weekend was Open Studios and no one can tell me that art is not important. I saw the crowds hitting the studios and having smiles on their faces.

RENATE SCHNEIDER
Whanganui