Letters to Editor: Give Pharmac a break, guys

Give Pharmac a break, guys
I read with some concern the editorial of May 25 in the NZ Herald re the fact that the free trade agreement with the US is of greater importance than Pharmac, our drug-buying arm.
I would beg to differ, as the availability of affordable medication for NZers is of paramount importance. Most, if not all, of the users of these medications are on fixed incomes, and paying full price for these medications would be beyond the reach of these folk.
Do we need a free trade agreement with the US, when just north of NZ there is a market in Asia that we should be tapping into, more so than what we are?
In closing, I would leave Pharmac alone, as by all accounts, this is a well run and efficient supplier of medication to our hospitals and pharmacies.
The approach of Pharmac is medication of quality at an affordable price, which Pharmac is doing well. If the free trade agreement with America falls through, so be it. Asia can take all we produce, and more besides.
Trevor Douglas, Napier
Disaster anxiety
I don't have confidence in the present arrangements that our Government has to provide adequate healthcare for the people of Hawke's Bay in the event of a natural disaster such as the Japanese and Christchurch earthquakes, or in the event of a tsunami.
In a worst-case scenario when we have a combination of flooding, and earthquake and liquefaction, this could bring down the bridges supplying access to Hawke's Bay Hospital.
If the Taradale floodbanks ruptured during a flood because of a massive earthquake and liquefaction we would be up the creek without a paddle, so to speak. Our Civil Defence headquarters should be in a much safer place than where it is at the moment.
The Civic building itself is not deemed to be "earthquake-safe" so why put our CD team in there? The old hospital site would be the safest place for it to be. Let's not put all our eggs in one basket. New Zealanders pride themselves on being well prepared and self-sufficient in the event of a disaster - at the moment we are in an extremely vulnerable situation.
Have we learnt nothing from watching the recent events in Japan and Christchurch?
We need a second hospital and Civil Defence headquarters to be in a safe place, from a high aspect where they will not be subject to liquefaction and tsunamis.
We need an alternative venue such as the old hospital site to be up and running, that in the event of a disaster would cope with the influx of people.
Eve Lemm, Napier

Something's fishy
In response to William Johnson's letter on Stuart Nash and his press release on "dairy sector tax", I also have an issue with his figures and in particular the purpose of the statement.
Simply put, the figures Nash uses do not relate to the same financial year, so therefore are misleading. Not only should Nash have known this but also the media.
It seems to me that the purpose of the press release was to create or increase an anti-farmer attitude, and in particular anti-dairy farmer, so that Phil Goff's election bribe of implementing an early ETS tax on farmers would be welcomed by the general population.
It is quite noticeable that there is jealousy and even hatred towards people of wealth (very apparent in HB Today's "text to ed" and weekly columns) so perhaps this may find favour with a few of the more ignorant public.
Perhaps if Nash's grandfather had not implemented the welfare state, NZ would not be in debt now. Who's to say?
But if I am wrong and Stuart Nash has simply made an error with the tax years, then I hope he never becomes Minister of Finance.
Gary Campbell, Hastings
HB equals Hub Bay
HB is a great place - that no one will argue with. The fact remains HB is a destination that you need a reason to go to.
Forget selling the lifestyle aspect of the Bay.
It has crime, it rains, has earthquakes, kids at schools get bullied as anywhere else ... it is a destination (place to go), not place you go through.
I would like to see HB sold as a hub!
A hub that in two hours will have you at a mountain skiing (Ruapehu), a lake (Taupo) competing in ironmans or fishing (Waikaremoana), or at wineries entertaining.
People who are friendly. Houses that are affordable.Tim WilsonWellington
What a mysteryWe live in Westminster Ave, Tamatea, and yesterday my husband noticed our daughter's car and the driveway had what looked like crap splattered on it.
He did wonder if perhaps it did come from a plane (as we are definitely in the flight path), but didn't really take much notice of it, thinking it would not happen in the city surely.
I am hoping to maybe find a sample and get it tested as curiosity has got the better of me.
A flock of birds?
Hmmm, they must have decided to use the roof of the car and some of the driveway as their target.
Interesting. Watch this space.
Anne Taana, Tamatea
Smoke-free please
What a great spectacle it was, the Crusaders versus the Chiefs, and a great way to support Christchurch.
But the smoking, can't it be stopped?
When we got home the grandchildren and ourselves all stunk of cigarette smoke.
Let's make it a smoke-free park. Kevin PlowmanNapier
Reality checkSomeone needs to tell Mr William Johnson, your correspondent of May 24, that he needs to "get real".
He says he couldn't pay his power, fuel and grocery bills on an income of $15,000.
He needs to know that there are thousands of people in this country who do just that on less than $15,000.
I shudder to think how he will manage when he retires or is made redundant (without a big fat payout).
Perhaps he can ask Mr Goff to come up with yet another pipe dream that will fund more money for the pensioners and other beneficiaries, such as imposing a super tax on Members of Parliament, and cutting their perks - excluding himself, of course.
Philip M Ward, Napier