Letters to the Editor: Let’s support a more self-sufficient Aotearoa
Wattie’s closures
The closure of Wattie’s plants will have huge effects on not only employees at the plants but also growers, transport operators and other trades.
There are many likely ripple effects which may result in rezoning and building over productive land, permanently removing it as a food supply.
For years, governments have not supported local growers and industries. The result has been importing dependence, unemployment and loss of skills and capabilities.
We need to protect productive land and support local growers and industries. The “free trade” import/export model has failed and has only benefited a few, to the detriment of many.
Let’s support New Zealand-grown, New Zealand-made and protect productive land.
Clear labelling will help consumers do their part and some import protection from the Government would help.
The fact that we import peas, beans, carrots, tomatoes from all over the world demonstrates how ridiculous things have become.
Let’s support a more self-sufficient Aotearoa.
David McMahon, Sunnyvale.
Violent child abusers
I noted in the Herald (March 12) a letter from Emma Mackintosh which raised her concerns about violent offenders being released back into the community.
“One has to ask what is wrong with a system that is not protecting our most vulnerable first, from already known predators/killers?”
“The majority of crimes against our most vulnerable in society, though, happen behind closed doors.”
Fair points indeed, and her letter reminded me that we still have people who have killed infants and never faced justice at all.
Unicef says New Zealand has one of the worst rates of child abuse in the world, with 10-11 infant homicides per annum.
We also hear that Oranga Tamariki receives around 150,000 reports involving some degree of abuse every year.
Surely, we cannot accept such a status quo?
Barry Watkin, Devonport.
Grateful for Covid response
I think Thursday’s letter on still suffering from Covid is missing the point. It cites thousands of children who missed out on schooling and thousands who were unable to travel to see their families.
I feel we should be grateful those thousands of people who are still alive. Try to be grateful for what we have and learn from this.
Hindsight is a great tool. Lives are precious.
Beth Jarrett, King Country.
Ideological creep
Jonathan Ayling’s commentary on the Medical Council’s proposed guidance around colonialism, privilege and Treaty interpretation raises an issue that goes well beyond the medical profession.
Similar ideological frameworks are appearing across other public institutions, including recent examples within the New Zealand Army.
What is being introduced in these cases is not simply guidance on professional conduct, but a particular interpretation of history and society.
The obvious question is: where is this philosophical shift being driven from? Is it genuinely arising within these professions, or is it being imported through policy or academic frameworks filtering into public institutions?
If a broad ideological direction is being encouraged across our institutions, New Zealanders are entitled to know who is driving it and why.
Mark Crouch, Hamilton.
Fuel price surges
Air New Zealand could ask customers who have booked and paid for flights earlier to pay the fuel surcharges because of the steep price increases.
Frequent flyers place a higher value on our own airline than it seems some of the Government do.
Sensible statements coming from Winston Peters, however.
Gary Carter, Gulf Harbour.
Congestion
The Herald reported on the choke points in the Auckland transport system. If the council is serious about reducing these expenses in time and petrol choke points, it needs to take drastic action.
Firstly, make public transport free during the two rush hours and fund this by introducing congestion charges for routes where this free public transport runs.
The price of fuel is going up so changes like this would be immediately beneficial to commuters and to reducing air pollution. It’s a win-win proposal. Let’s hope that it’s adopted, rather than lost amongst the bureaucrats.
Nick Hamilton, Remuera.