As countries at war show, when a population works together for a common good (or against a common enemy), huge gains can be made in a short period of time.
New Zealand could be seen to be very much in need of such an effort. Let’s all pull together. Let’s not focus on our differences but work together to improve all our lives.
Lucas Bonné, Unsworth Heights.
Seymour’s message
David Seymour is urging productivity growth and rising wages in real terms to deal with rising prices (May 5).
Perhaps he needs reminding of what his party, which holds the Workplace Relations and Safety ministerial portfolio, has contributed on that front. An axe through pay equity and, over the term of this Government, a restriction (moderation they call it) on minimum wage increases due to inflation. Not to mention, of course, the ongoing wage negotiation disputes with a wide range of health professionals, educators and scientists – all the skilled jobs Seymour says are key to productivity and economic growth.
Neil Anderson, Algies Bay.
Working theory
Several political commentators and talkback hosts seem to think that various New Zealand industries and our hospitals could not survive without the immigrants and people on work visas coming into New Zealand. But these people have taken jobs that Kiwis could do, and now this is accepted as the norm.
Why do we have 200,000-plus people on Jobseeker benefits costing New Zealand around $460 million every six weeks and only half of New Zealand nursing graduates being employed by Te Whatu Ora while it spends millions hiring overseas nurses and doctors? We should have had a third medical school years ago.
Why do we have people from overseas driving forklifts and working on dairy farms and the kiwifruit industry when there are people in the same towns sitting at home on benefits?
A real tragedy is that so many young Kiwis under the age of 25 are either unemployed or not in training because successive governments have made the benefits too lucrative, and too easy to obtain.
It’s time for the Government to make some hard decisions or we’ll sink even further into debt.
Paul Carpenter, Rotorua.
Luxon’s Iran stance
So Christopher Luxon, in the early days of the Iran war, wondered if we might back the Americans. So what?
If the American attack had resulted in regime change in Iran, it would have been hailed as a triumph. Trump might even have been up for a Nobel Peace Prize after all.
The Iranian Government makes Russia and North Korea look like Mother Teresa.
The Republican Guard runs Iran and, as we have seen, any uprising by the people results in mass murder.
As for Winston Peters releasing a string of emails on the matter, that’s the Machiavellian master playing his usual destructive games. I seriously doubt that it was, as he claims, a mistake. Peters doesn’t make mistakes like that.
At a time when we are facing a serious financial crisis, we need a government that is stable and focused on getting us through with as little economic damage as possible. That doesn’t suit Peters’ narrative.
When the election is done and dusted, regardless of any previous statements, if it suits him, he will go – as history proves – with the party that offers the biggest, brightest baubles of office.
He’s done it before and that is something voters need to think about.
David Morris, Hillsborough.
By request
Auckland Grammar principal Tim O’Connor is concerned at “vexatious” OIA (Official Information Act) requests that take time to answer.
To OIA-requests one is bound to reply;
And there are solid reasons as to why;
But many to schools are for personal gain;
While with others their animosity is plain;
Seems that Tim O’Connor and other school leaders;
Need help from colleagues as OIA-request readers;
But surely there’s an opportunity to employ AI;
To deal with vexatious ones that don’t seek OI;
Perhaps vexatious writers in time would relent;
And school leaders’ time be much better spent.
David Hopkins, Remuera.