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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Such an approach could reduce duplication, streamline headquarters functions and ensure resources are directed to operational capability rather than administration.<\/p>\n
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 They deserve better than outdated equipment, shrinking capability and governments unwilling to invest in the nation\u2019s security.<\/p>\n
The world is becoming less stable, not more. New Zealand can no longer afford to pretend that geography alone is a defence policy.<\/p>\n
Champak Mehta, Remuera.<\/p>\n
Costs and benefits<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure most of the thousands of people currently surveying the devastation of local floods couldn\u2019t 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\u2019s called planned resilience and retreat. That\u2019s what we should be focusing on, as our environment is being ravaged on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all a matter of priorities \u2013 our current leaders appear to be acting at the behest of lobbyists, not the public.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Vivien Fergusson, Mt Eden.<\/p>\n
Energy issues<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
Our energy future looks bleak without a complete rethink and major reforms.<\/p>\n
Graham Fleetwood, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
Pricey imprisonment <\/p>\n
It costs a lot of money to keep somebody in prison, so this<\/a> is very expensive policy (three strikes regime for burglary) for the Act Party to campaign on (July 8).<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n A hardened criminal will spend many years living in prison on the taxpayer\u2019s money.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t want long-term, so-called \u201cdole-bludgers\u201d, so why is there a policy to support long-term \u201coffenders\u201d without first trying interventions?<\/p>\n Mary-Ann de Kort, Gisborne. <\/p>\n Solar loan drawbacks<\/p>\n National and Labour are both trumpeting solar<\/a> policies (July 9) with the intention of lowering electricity costs for consumers. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Maxine Samson, Whakat\u0101ne. <\/p>\n No such thing as a fact-free lunch<\/p>\n