The Royal New Zealand Air Force has also evolved into an organisation with little true combat capability. The retirement of our fighter wing over two decades ago fundamentally changed its role. Today’s Air Force performs valuable air mobility and maritime surveillance tasks, but it is difficult to describe it as an independent fighting force in the traditional sense.
Perhaps it is time to rethink our entire defence force structure. Maritime surveillance assets such as the P-8A Poseidon fleet could logically sit within the Navy, while tactical transport helicopters and Hercules aircraft could be assigned to the Army to directly support land operations.
Such an approach could reduce duplication, streamline headquarters functions and ensure resources are directed to operational capability rather than administration.
The men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force continue to serve with professionalism and dedication. They deserve better than outdated equipment, shrinking capability and governments unwilling to invest in the nation’s security.
The world is becoming less stable, not more. New Zealand can no longer afford to pretend that geography alone is a defence policy.
Champak Mehta, Remuera.
Costs and benefits
It seems to me that Chris Bishop and his colleagues have an extremely narrow idea of how to assess the benefits and costs of their decisions. The dire consequences of his attack on public housing is costing us all, with soaring homelessness and its tragic consequences.
The plan for roads of national significance is just the most recent example. At the same time that our regional roads are rendered impassible, he wants to spend billions of public funds on extending our high-speed highways. It’s also becoming apparent that he expects the rates-capped local councils to repair their own flood damage. Currently that applies to a significant part of the eastern side of both islands.
I’m sure most of the thousands of people currently surveying the devastation of local floods couldn’t care less about roads of national significance. They need a government that will help them repair the damage and help them mitigate the next disaster, maybe even prevent it. It’s called planned resilience and retreat. That’s what we should be focusing on, as our environment is being ravaged on a regular basis.
It’s all a matter of priorities – our current leaders appear to be acting at the behest of lobbyists, not the public.
It’s time for a new set of values, based on the common good, where we can all benefit. Not just those who use their wealth to influence Government ministers for private gain.
Vivien Fergusson, Mt Eden.
Energy issues
As New Zealand heads to a crisis of energy supply and price, there has been little or no incentive put in place this term by the coalition Government to make solar energy more attractive to property owners.
Apart from a half-hearted solar policy proposal by the Labour Party, you would think fossil fuels are here to stay. The power gentailers and retailers have no incentive to encourage solar use as they can’t sell us power that we generate but would prefer to build expensive new generation paid for by us so they can maintain their exorbitant profits.
Our energy future looks bleak without a complete rethink and major reforms.
Graham Fleetwood, Bethlehem.
Pricey imprisonment
It costs a lot of money to keep somebody in prison, so this is very expensive policy (three strikes regime for burglary) for the Act Party to campaign on (July 8).
It’s true that not everybody can be rehabilitated, but surely an attempt to rehabilitate will be more cost-effective and better in terms of social cohesion than throwing everyone in prison to become hardened criminals.
A hardened criminal will spend many years living in prison on the taxpayer’s money.
We don’t want long-term, so-called “dole-bludgers”, so why is there a policy to support long-term “offenders” without first trying interventions?
Mary-Ann de Kort, Gisborne.
Solar loan drawbacks
National and Labour are both trumpeting solar policies (July 9) with the intention of lowering electricity costs for consumers. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks.
A low-interest loan is good in principle, but many families living paycheque to paycheque will be unable to service this loan, either due to poor credit ratings or the inability to take on extra debt now, even though long term there will be savings.
Loans secured against the property (through council rates) rather than the individual would make those properties less desirable on resale, as any new owner would be inheriting the debt.
Maxine Samson, Whakatāne.
No such thing as a fact-free lunch
I would have expected Jonathan Ayling to seek facts before forming opinions.
His assertion that the strongest societies are not those where the Government does most is simply false.
All five Nordic countries are consistently in the top 10 in the world on the happiness scale, based on data from 140 countries.
Finland has been number one for seven years. All are among the highest taxed globally and all provide child benefits, parental leave, health services, hospitals and care for the sick and elderly, paid for by the Government.
Their emphasis is on the wellbeing of the entire population, with high levels of social support and generosity.
This evidence indicates that strong societies come from making sure everyone’s needs are met, not just those who have the nous and the money, with others ending up homeless and hungry. Those are the facts, Mr Ayling.
Susan Grimsdell, Auckland Central.
Keep it simple
Jonathan Ayling is right when he says even the simplest of lunches reflects parents’ care for their child, something that the state should not try to emulate unless there is hardship, illness or addiction involved.
When did butter chicken or beef stir fry become the norm? A piece of fruit and sandwiches remove the competitive element from the lunchbox brigade and are a quiet reminder of parents’ daily care. A note in the lunchbox can be a special bonus on birthdays.
Coming from a family of five, Mum provided the food but we made our own lunches and soon learned for ourselves that a soft pear or jam sandwiches fared badly after the several-kilometre walk to school.
The more the state does for parents, the more dependent they become. Artificial parenting? One more building block in the nanny state. Whoever thought New Zealand would come to this?
Mary Tallon, Mt Albert.
Happiness and wellbeing
We’re again hearing the old chestnut that you can’t tax your way to prosperity. Maybe. But you can tax your way to happiness and wellbeing. The Scandinavian countries have been proving this for many years.
The Green Party proposal of a 2.5% annual tax on net wealth over $10 million is a tiny start, but a wealth tax needs to be progressive, reaching 50% annual tax on net wealth over $100m.
Such people must be persuaded to redistribute their pile or sell up. Nobody needs such a greedy share of our national wealth, and nobody could ever claim to have earned such extraordinary wealth by fair labour. The Government needs more revenue to build more hospitals.
Jim Carlyle, Te Atatū.
Hearty competition
I read with interest (July 9) about the man who holds a world record for the longest-surviving heart bypass patient. My first bypass surgery was in early 1979. This was done in Greenlane Hospital by Dr Ken Graham.
The question is, do I now hold a world record?
John Whitcombe, Tauranga.
Covid-blame fatigue
I, and I’m sure many others, are wondering when Nicola Willis is actually going to stop blaming post-Covid conditions for inflation. It always reminds me of being a parent and bringing up young children, who, when something bad happens, have a tendency to blame someone else or not admit it might be them.
Fortunately, children grow up and learn to take ownership of their actions.
Hamish Walsh, Devonport.
A quick word
News of a serious injury to an SAS soldier (July 9) brings home the dangers they face and the commitment they show in the interests of our national defence and security.
We owe them a great deal, and for which, “we salute them”.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.
With Cadbury shrinking the size of its blocks, is there really still a glass and a half in every one?
Gary Andrews, Mount Maunganui.
As we come together for Matariki, as part of our celebrations we should present Donald Trump with a symbolic rimu wooden spoon – a gentle reminder that his approach to global issues can feel more like stirring up trouble than a gathering enjoying kai in harmony and peaceful union around the table.
Chris Mann, Auckland.
We need to have some balance in the analysis of inappropriate phone use for children under 16 years of age. To blame the app companies for bullying is missing the point. This problem will only be solved by educating the children using phones and encouraging positive behaviour.
Warwick Ayres, Avondale.
You have to feel sorry for Dave Rennie trying to rebuild the current All Blacks as he only really has one halfback to work with.
This lack of replacement halfbacks will be sorely exposed when they travel to South Africa and have to play nine games in five weeks.
Is there any chance they can get the Goat, Aaron Smith, out of retirement?
Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.