World Leaders pose for a group photo during an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 UN Climate Summit, in Glasgow. Photo / Alberto Pezzali, Pool via AP
James Shaw should consider the following negotiating point at the climate conference: That the carbon debits against our country be mitigated to a reasonable degree by getting the conference members to recognise that the burden of carbon responsibility for food production be borne by the consuming nations, not New Zealand.
I understand that we export some 90 per centof our agricultural output; and it should not be that we are penalised for feeding other populations. If we did not feed them, the food would be produced elsewhere with similar overall climate change outcomes.
I say "similar" because carbon audits have shown that we can ship dairy products to Britain at a more efficient carbon count than product grown in Britain.
Shaw (and his team) will be extremely busy, but this seems like an overlooked consideration that deserves to be aired.
Hugh Webb, Hamilton.
Finding our feet
Much as we wish to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in order to minimise the effects of climate change the world news today would suggest that NZ could be heading for some significant difficulties, our government has provided themselves with some feel good feelings by allowing Marsden Point Oil Refinery to close, No further coal mining and no further oil and gas exploration in an aim to reduce climate change however we are now seeing worldwide shortages of fuels, gas, coal and transportation which will result in our inability to control our destiny, this will lead us to higher energy prices, inflation and potential shortages.
We should retain our resources until we can be sure that we can live without them....like having insurance.
I believe we should first learn to walk before run.
Mike Arthur, Matamata.
The house wins
The recently released profits of the big Australian banks, which total billions of dollars clearly show a significant economic imbalance.
Commentaries accompanying these profit releases all say that a key driver of these profits is mortgage lending growth, which provides all the explanation that you need to understand why we have house prices that defy any kind of sense.
Yet, our largest companies such as Fonterra involved in the real and productive part of the economy make profits that are just a small percentage of total bank profits. A clear imbalance and suggests that New Zealand's economy is all about real estate with exporting and tourism on the side.
Jeremy King, Taupō.
Family reunion
The Government has just allowed Aucklanders the freedom to head to retail outlets next week. Yahoo. But wait, you still can't mix with your family indoors? What madness is this?
Do Government MP's not visit supermarkets and see that maintaining a 2m separation between your fellow shopper is impossible down the aisles and has not been adhered to for the past 11 weeks? Policing this would require an escort for every shopper.
So, I know where I am headed to catch up with family members next week: a mega store and we will take a picnic too to have in the outdoor furniture section.
Keith Moran, Stonefields.
Enough time
Emeritus medical professor Des Gorman today stated an exact description of how we Aucklanders are feeling right now after all our work and contribution to coping with the Covid virus. That is, "easing restrictions was the only way to maintain public compliance".
The PM is quite out of touch with the situation in Auckland while she stays in Wellington wrapped in a cocoon and surrounded by obsequious sycophants.
It has been obvious for a long time now that the virus is here to stay and the Government has had time to have procedures and facilities in place for this eventuality.
Enough is enough.
Leonie Lawson, Remuera.
Lockdown thinking
One measure of intelligence is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Sir Ian Taylor's regular open advice to the Government regarding MIQ and Covid shows that he is top of the league. Unfortunately, the Government remains deep in the IQ relegation zone with no hope of escape.
Stewart Hawkins, St Heliers.
Choice and consequence
Why should people with long-awaited elective surgeries be bumped if our hospitals become overrun with unvaccinated Covid patients? Once again, the selfish minority are rewarded for their "right to choose".
I would be incensed if I, or a family member was denied planned treatment because of one of these thoughtless queue jumpers.
Once again, we are enabling undesirable behaviour. It is completely illogical.
The right to choose must have consequences - for both sides.
Fiona McAllister, Mt Maunganui.
Upping the anti
After the weekend vandalising of a vaccination clinic, no one should have any doubts that this is an organised campaign and not just a few people who don't want to be immunised.
Among those protesting, you will find many anti-government and disaffected individuals claiming their "rights".
What about the rights of the majority?
Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 states: "In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society."
This pandemic, as in times of war, has surely shown that the rights of society must supersede those of the individual.
Sue Rawson, Tauranga.
A pyrrhic victory
We can all understand the stoic stand of the Prime Minister as she bravely battles for a world-class leading 90 per cent vaccination rate for the country.
The evidence of the cost is all around us, at a billion dollars a week in subsidies plus the mental anguish of the business community.
Leases for shops dot the quiet streets, and the growing liquidation and receivership notices in the newspapers are aptly placed after the death notices.
One continues to hope that Christmas will bring some of the traditional hope for the future.
Rob Elliott, Kohimarama.
Passport flaw
The proposed vaccine passport will not include a photo, just an official QR code, so the checking person cannot see that the presenter is the authorised certificate holder without other photo identification being presented and verified. Complicated. Just have the photo on the passport. Simple.
The PM said this will incentivise anti-vaxxers and unvaccinated people to comply so they can benefit from the added freedoms and in some cases be able to keep their jobs that go with the passport. But the faults are already in the system.
To get vaccinated you only need a name, address and/or health number to be accepted. A anti-vaxxer can ring and book an appointment, then have someone turn up with the relevant information to receive the vaccination on their behalf. The anti-vaxxer can then apply and be given an authorised passport stating that they have been vaccinated.
No forethought has gone into this by a Government that has been unprepared and scrambling, even though we had the advantage of time to see how the rest of the world handled this situation.
How do we solve this problem now?
Kevin Schulz, Rothesay Bay.
Honest examination
Our Government would do much to rehabilitate its ailing reputation if it were to support calls for an enquiry into its pandemic response.
Approval of an even-handed independent examination of their actions would do a great deal for public confidence in our future, led by a mature and responsible government receptive to constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.
Scrutiny suppressed
The new Israeli government has designated six Palestinian human rights bodies as "terrorist organisations". These include, for example, Al Haq - a group that monitors and records human rights violations. A member of several international groups including the World Organisation against Torture, Al Haq has won a number of international awards for its work.
The suppression of scrutiny is just part of the Israeli state's attempt to hide from criticism of its repressive tactics against the Palestinian population.
New Zealand must make clear its abhorrence of such moves.
Bob van Ruyssevelt, Glendene.
On boosters
Presumably, the Government is now preparing for the rollout of the third (booster) Covid shot, and not just waiting for the laggards who still haven't had even one jab? Pamela Russell, Ōrākei.
On birds
When a bat wins the Bird of the Year competition, it is clear that lockdowns and the associated stresses are causing many people to go batty. Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
The selection of a bat as a bird takes gender identity to a totally (crazy) new level.Graham Steenson, Whakatane.
A mammal wins New Zealand Bird of the Year. What on earth is happening to us? Glennie van Prehn, Waipū.
Next year I will be voting for the humble bumblebee. Mike Jarman, One Tree Hill.
On Auckland
As an Aucklander, I have found that you need to have lived and worked in Wellington to understand the level of disdain which the people of the Capital generally have for Auckland. Ian Collinson, Remuera.
Apparently, the only way the Prime Minister can understand how Auckland is coping is to visit in person. Yet, many of her critics are experts in how the rest of the world is managing despite not leaving NZ. Stuart Blake, Birkenhead.
On refusals
Pretty tragic that gang leaders have shown themselves better role models and more proactive in the campaign against Delta than some leaders of churches, local councils, education and wanna-be MPs. Kathleen Hawkins, Papakura.
Is there an overture, or underture, here that the Government will just walk all over private agreements (this is what a restrictive covenant is) if it doesn't get its way? While NZ does have a Public Works Act for essential public work, we don't yet have anything like the US's eminent domain. The thought that a group of neighbours can't covenant their titles to protect an environment they are happy with because the government is in favour of urban intensification is a society moving a long way towards state control. Steve G.
If nimbies team up to violate the spirit of the law then they should be held fully accountable. Both National and Labour can work to ensure the new law is sufficient here. Steve E.
Think of it as being community-minded. A bunch of neighbours disagree with the law and want to maintain the character and open space of the area. Join together and get the appropriate covenants put on your titles. Probably save lawyers fees doing it in bulk too. It's one way for people to control their environment instead of a bunch of Wellington bureaucrats. Russell P.
It's right that retrospectively nullifying contracts in some way ain't the way to go. Heck, it may well come down to common law supporting the intention of the statute and arguing from a values and/or philosophical stand on the injustice of existing crosslease titles under modern conditions. I wouldn't know actually, except I reckon it'd be a virtual guarantee that ultimately intensification will win, and crosslease restrictions will lose. Why? Political will and younger buyers resentment at house prices. Timothy T.
I know someone who has had a property developer buy a large property next door which has been left untenanted and there is no obvious signs of the house being put on the rental market so they are thinking maybe townhouses next door. If the developers decide to do townhouses and go two or three storey, the people I know will lose every scrap of privacy on their own property and have to have two windows of bedrooms turned to privacy glass which will mean that the bedrooms will never see actual daylight or sky ever again. Gone are the summer barbecues without having at least nine neighbours watching. Roy H.
Bring back local, I'm sick of this Government meddling everywhere. We have a covenant on our street and purchased knowing it was there. It enables everyone to share the view and have some certainty around what houses are built. It reflects the local environment, typology and constraints. Daniel S.
These new rules imposed by Government will wreck our transport network. We desperately need intensification in Auckland but only within walking distance of a modern transport network and infrastructure, which we don't have yet, this will be a mess. We need to consider housing affordability, transport and infrastructure all as part of the same problem and before we start intensifying anything we need to sort out the transport and infrastructure, or at least have a plan. John B.
First new taxes created against businesses by extending Brightline, then new taxes created by taking away deductibility. Then changing the law so tenants can overrule existing legal leasing contracts and force negotiations/arbitration on rents. Having learnt their supermajority means they can legislate anything they want they are going after every property owner in the land by drawing a blade across any long term planning, peace of mind purchase and overriding decades of established planning rules in a desperate attempt to look like they are solving a problem. Dee R.
Hawke's Bay hosts Christmas lunches for those seeking company and support.