Guillotine for Foster, add Razor
Surely, after successive defeats it's time to realise Ian Foster has been a flop. Last week's loss to Ireland saw the writing on the wall. Now, after the humiliation by France it's time for the guillotine to drop on the All Blacks coach.
Scott Robertson is the
logical man to take over, the sooner the better. This will give the team heaps of time to reinvigorate and develop winning strategies before the next World Cup in France, in 2023. Let's not forget Razor played 23 tests for the All Blacks. Fozzie was never an All Black. The four Super Rugby titles the Crusaders won with Robertson as coach show he has the ability to win, win and win again. This is what the All Blacks need.
Glen Stanton, Mairangi Bay.
Kāinga Ora plans
My wife and I built an average home in a new subdivision seven years ago in Te Awamutu. We have wonderful neighbours and all of us pride ourselves on looking after our homes. Recently five houses came onto the market in our area and were snapped up by Kāinga Ora. The burning question is, is Kāinga Ora planning to buy all houses under 20 years old as they come onto the market or are they limited to the number they can purchase in any given area?
We are concerned that our area, over time, will become devalued and our endeavours to maintain a caring and pleasant neighbourhood will come to nothing. I understand that less fortunate people need housing but surely not at the expense of people who have worked all their lives to achieve the goal of owning their own home.
Kāinga Ora needs to leave the current housing stock alone and concentrate on adding to their portfolio by building more basic homes and setting down a list of requirements for tenants to abide by. If they fail to live by these basic requirements — e.g. cleaning, mowing lawns, maximum numbers of people living in the house, respect for neighbours etc — they get evicted. It's a no-brainer.
Colin Hyde, Te Awamutu.
Abuse and consequences
We grew up in a state house in a small rural town. Mum, dad and five kids. Dad worked at the local freezing works, as did many of our neighbours.
We all had our own vegetable gardens and dad added some chooks that used to scare the life out of us. We all used to play on the street. It was a close, tight-knit neighbourhood. Mum and dad were so grateful to get that snug little house. Before that we used to live in an old, draughty villa.
I think mum would have personally maimed any of us kids or any visitors who were disrespectful to our neighbours. There was a huge waiting list for state houses then. With privileges comes responsibilities. With every action we take, there are consequences.
We are not doing the children of state tenants any favours if they learn that there are no consequences whatsoever to appalling behaviour. Society is letting these kids down by allowing this happen.
A state house is a privilege, not a right. If you abuse that privilege, there should be immediate and sharp consequences for your actions.
Lonnie Johnston, Huntly.
Farmers' reality check
The Groundswell farmers are protesting proposed measures to cut back agricultural methane emissions and clean up our runoff polluted waterways. Just what are they proposing to do about both problems? Pretend they don't exist until absolute calamity forces us to act?
The dairy industry is enjoying bumper returns while Auckland's businesses are really suffering to protect the country. I think the farmer protesters need a reality check.
Jeff Hayward, Auckland Central.
Open sanctuary
Like the foresight of Dr Logan Campbell in establishing Cornwall Park as a public park and the Plowman Family, the owners of Rotoroa Island, Bruce Plested may wish to consider establishing an open sanctuary, regional park on his recent purchase of 300 hectares of coastal land on Waiheke Island, like his Pie Melon Bay property.
Volunteers from local schools, local iwi, the community and employees from Mainfreight and other companies could replant the pasture on the farm with native plant species and with appropriate predator control the property could become a home for endangered species including kiwi, tuatara, bellbirds and weta. Adjoining landowners may wish to consider appropriate predator control on their properties. The nation would be eternally grateful.
Bruce Tubb, Takapuna.
