Letters: Best use of land, gender pay gap, Gaza conflict, nurses' pay and workplace safety

Clouds over Pukekohe as urban development absorbs the produce growing fields. Stunning photo / Jason Oxenham

Letter of the week: Paul Kayes, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Two summers ago, my wife and I walked, cycled, canoed, kayaked and hitchhiked our way from Cape Reinga to Bluff. We took our time. Over four months together. Our hikoi.
One of the benefits of moving slowly is it gives you time to talk; to look at the land; and think.
One of the things we pondered was land use. And some of the crazy historic attempts to break in land, such as the Bridge to Nowhere along the Whanganui River, or various attempts at forestry in Fiordland – settlements of thousands of people, today little remains.
Now Pukekohe is in the news; great vegetable growing land becoming houses.
When you walk the country, you appreciate good use of land, appropriate use of land. What further becomes obvious is the need for a national overview of land use.
Is Auckland Council the best body to decide that Pukekohe vegetable gardens should become houses? There needs to be a discussion, and some decisions, on the best, and forever, uses of land throughout New Zealand.

Cheap shot

Thanks for highlighting (Weekend Herald, May 15) disparities between women and men (and their pay) in various medical specialities. The table showing specialists by gender could, however, have been more informative by showing percentages of women in each field, not just raw numbers. For most of the specialities, the percentage of women hovers around 40 per cent. The real outlier is orthopaedics, where women are only 6 per cent of the specialists in the country.
Hopefully, the planned inquiry will address differences in culture in different fields and how that impacts on women's choices to work there. My own experience with an orthopaedic was unimpressive. In contrast to general surgeons, who treated the patient and our family as intelligent partners in planning care, an orthopaedic surgeon asked me (as a support person) if there were "any questions from the cheap seats".
It was small comfort to know that their "we know best" attitude apparently extended to not listening to other medical specialists who were providing advice on a complex case.
Miriam Meyerhoff, Westmere.

Mind the gap

It's almost too embarrassing to read the reporting (Weekend Herald, May 15) of gender bias between women and men's pay scales. Let's face it, division is in every sector of our community.
We wonder why our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is honoured abroad but less at home. Is it because men are at the forefront of big business? We did see them at the front of the queue demanding for the early opening of our borders. They were also at the helm all those years ago supporting Bill Birch's Employment Contracts Act which brought down workers wages, allowing them to pocket the rest.
Then we wonder why our business fraternity reacts so negatively towards a leader, a woman, so admired and respected around the world.
Do they honestly believe life is all about them and only they have the answers?
Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.

Gaza standoff

Today, 73 years ago, I was escorting Jewish food convoys to Jerusalem from the coast and Etzion, and patrolling the border between the old and new city. A few days, later my armoured car was blown up in Sheik Jarrah - my driver killed and me left with memories.
With the UN taking over the British Mandate, partition offered the Jews and Arabs separate states with the Old City of Jerusalem becoming a second Vatican - administered by all religions there.
By Partition Day on May 15, every Jew had been removed to the New City and Arabs occupied the entire surrounding area. If they had been prepared, they could have had the state and capital - minus the Old City - that they still seek today.
The Jews were prepared for Israel, issuing postage stamps the next day, but the Arabs refused to accept the UN offer as it required the recognition of a Jewish state.
Today's Intifada will end like the others: Israel will reoccupy the north, forcing all Hamas supporters into what remains - increasing the congestion, resentment and misery there and reducing Israeli support for any compromise.
J. E. Binsley, Parnell.

Support for nurses

John Roughan (NZ Herald, May 15) writes that the announced restraint of nurse's remuneration suggests that ..."Politically, the decision should impress the National voters who crossed over last year". I am not so sure.
There have been enough public reports of case studies and personal stories from nurses, concerning the static nature of their wage increase histories to suggest that they deserve better pay.
Accompanied by our widespread sympathy for a group who provide skilled caring services for our most vulnerable people, even politically motivated "National voters" could well harbour sympathy and support for the nurse's pay claims.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.

Meerkat mentality

In the 1980s and 90s, I was involved in health and safety at work.
At some point we were told we were no longer required. A wonderful new system would require employers to manage their own health and safety as part of a system of market forces legislation for building, employment, alcohol, food safety, etc. It made health and safety quite trendy, signs went up and reports were written.
Decades later, and Kiwis still die needlessly at work.
Multiple government agencies turn up after someone has already died. They then announce the systems are already fixed, blame the victim, or fine someone. And so it goes on.
But have faith, we now have a national television campaign that encourages us to use our ESP to predict accidents.
David Patterson, Levin.

Boozed movies

I agree with Ian Summerfield (Weekend Herald, May 15) about smoking in movies. My dislike is excessive drinking in "chick flicks" like Bridesmaids and Bad Moms.
It's sad that moviemakers think you have to drink to excess to be accepted, funny and have a good time, and they often glamorise drinking.
I've worked in enough bars and nightclubs to see there is nothing glamorous about the after-effects. And yes, I'm a non-drinker and have fun without alcohol.
Helen Lowe, Albany.

A quick word

During lockdown, Mafile'o Talakai was working long hours and unable to even hug her whānau (Weekend Herald, May 15). The Minister of Health was mountain-biking and taking his family to the beach. Hilton Davis, Taupō.

When I am going under the knife, I want the most experienced and skilled person treating me, regardless of gender or ethnicity, not someone who is put there to meet some sort of equity quota. June Brookes, Glendowie.

Richie McCaw's response (Weekend Herald, May 15) stated the obvious, the only reason the US company wanted a share of the All Blacks was to make money for themselves. Kick Silver Lake into touch now and get on with the game. Ken Shelvey, Pāuanui.

Great Weekend Herald this week, I especially like the piece on Ben Purua and how he changed his life around to become a man. I wish him and his family the very best. Susan Lawrence, Meadowbank.

It's no wonder our Government can give away so much money. GST gives them an eternal waterfall of it. Catherine Curlett, Remuera.

National Party leader Judith Collins has absolutely every right to question He Puapua. In fact, it is her duty as leader of the Opposition to do so. Susan Short, Meadowbank

It is most reassuring to see that Judith Collins's attempts to reheat Brash's beige blancmange has caused her popularity to plummet. Michael Smythe, Northcote Pt.

It was always predictable that some people would not pay MIQ bills unless they received them up front - particularly if they were here for only a short visit. Pamela Russell, Ōrākei.

In coverage of the 2021 Budget, four words appeared to be missing: farming, agriculture, horticulture and fishing. Something else must be paying the country's bills then. Jon Addison, Milford.

Thirty-one years ago, our then 11-year-old prime minister says the "mother of all Budgets" had an effect on her. How many children of that age would be interested in Budgets? Brian Henman, Algies Bay.

I'm still suffering from the effects of Arnold Nordmeyer's 1958 Black Budget. But I'm hoping that, in another 30 years, I will have gotten over it. Keith Berman, Remuera.

GST is clawed back from benefits within a fortnight. The rest is spent immediately in Aotearoa with Kiwi businesses. There certainly was "something" in the budget for this sector. Marilyn Waring, Auckland.

This Government's motel transitional housing programme has turned "Rotovegas" into the "Rotobronx". Mike Wagg, Freemans Bay.

Australia do send us their 501s but perhaps Mike Hosking going there may be too cruel a retaliation. Max McCamish, Mt Roskill.