Fifth, new family violence legislation — okay, maybe. And last, and possibly the most stupid reason: "additional police numbers are expected to result in more arrests and prosecutions" — okay, so crime is so bad out there, give us an army to attack the scourge, then locking them away is the obvious answer.
Did you know that one in three black American males can expect to spend part of his life behind bars and there's huge damage to their society because of it, since almost all of them come out?
Here Maori suffer almost as badly — we've got the second-worst record globally for incarceration.
The last Government tried to bribe the public at election time with an extra $1 billion on prisons when education and health spending was more than $2b too low. Must have been an appeal to our peculiarly puritanical attitude towards the need to punish.
I for one will be watching how the new Government performs on this issue.
MARTIN VISSER
Whanganui
Empty promises
Since helping form a Government, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has been silent on many of the promises he made to get elected.
Both on their website and at meetings throughout the country Mr Peters told pensioners that if elected he would abolish Section 70 of the Social Security Act 1964 ensuring all NZ Super applicants will retain their overseas pensions without any deduction from their super or from their spouse's super and end the labyrinth of bureaucratic complexities and unfairness caused by existing reciprocal pension agreements with other countries.
I wrote to Tracey Martin, NZ First Minister for Seniors, to inquire when this was going to happen, as they were now in Government, pointing out we have been promised this previously on several occasions and it was my belief it was just another broken election promise.
I must have hit a nerve, because she took exception to my comments and replied that she found my email disrespectful and offensive and would not interact with me until I changed my tone.
When a list MP appointed to the privileged position of Minister for Seniors replies in such a way to an inquiry from one of those seniors she is supposedly representing, I am not confident she will do anything.
The voting public will never learn. Politicians promise anything to get themselves elected and do nothing when they are.
PAUL REA
Chair, NZ Seniors Party, Hawera
Flawed thinking?
Equality, like respect, is not solely a female privilege. Every child has a right to know who their father is. Politicians who dabble in this area infringe a fundamental human right.
Until recently even DNA evidence was ignored. What was the Government thinking or is it further evidence of biased and flawed "departmental" thinking?
It is similar to "opinion" pieces whose prime focus is to demean other races on the grounds of ethnicity. Whether you came to New Zealand from an island in the Pacific or an island in Britain, all Kiwis are equal.
Migrants who come here from India, China and elsewhere should expect a change in lifestyle and a respect for the New Zealand way of life, without constant minority Treaty claims between the Queen and Maori.
Nor has anyone the right to infringe our way of life, whether over religion, freedom or equality. Air, water and sunshine are free here.
Enjoy them. If you must express your ignorance, try to tweet it. Merry Christmas.
KEN CRAFAR
Whanganui
Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
