Ride-on time
It's very exciting to see the proposed cycle infrastructure, addressing environmental issues, congestion, current cycling dangers, and more.
This long-term planning must occur, and success has been demonstrated internationally. Additional benefits await the health and well-being of citizens, out of traffic jams and on their bikes. Carrier baskets and
fashion rainwear are aplenty in countries with established networks, and roads are available for vehicles if needed. They're just less congested.
I'm not a cycle commuter, but I will be once we have safe routes.
Not only has a huge increase in cycling occurred internationally when networks are in place - the first covid lockdown showed us how many people get on their bikes when roads are safe.
National's Simeon Brown needs to think carefully before assuming that the majority of businesses and commuters will be outraged.
J Cullen, Pt Chevalier.
Saddled with debt
What world is Auckland Transport (AT) living in? We know we have some significant core infrastructure to catch up on. We know that AT and Auckland Council are running out of money.
Yet, despite these plain facts, the numpties at AT want to allocate two billion dollars to a pipe dream that will benefit only 1.5 per cent of the population and severely disadvantage the rest.
What planet allocates resources with a twisted logic like that? They just expect the ratepayers to magic up the money to justify their perverse prejudices against the motor car. It's time for a commonsense ticket at the upcoming elections to get a majority of practical people onto the council that will vote for some rational policies to rein in the reckless and spendthrift dreamers at
AT.
Fred Wilson, Narrow Neck.
Parental control
While I agree that the perpetrators of these burglaries need some form of help, most of the blame should be directed at the parents and their failure to know where their children are and what they are doing (my parents certainly did). Parents also should be expected to contribute to repairing the cost of the damage that their children have inflicted on the businesses that have suffered at the hands of these children.
While it is our choice to become parents, with this comes obligations to society.
Margaret Wyatt, Matua.
Still waters
The Government tells us that removing water assets from councils, i.e. ratepayers, is necessary so that the new entities can borrow the massive amounts of money required for new infrastructure.
Frankly, this just sounds like a political spin, possibly obscuring some unpalatable agenda.
To create new infrastructure, the bulk of expenditure is going to be local, in NZ dollars. So why not follow the Government's own recent example? Have the Reserve Bank progressively issue new currency as required to finance the build, with the money being repaid, with interest over time from water rates?
This would keep everything in NZ, effectively moving money from our "left pocket" to our "right pocket" and back again, with minimum cost and risk to the taxpayer and ratepayer.
Gordon Sanders, Howick.
Eye of beholder
Sharing the realism art preference of some recent correspondents, I too am mystified at the value bestowed on abstract artworks such as those by Colin McCahon.
New Zealand has followed a world trend of the very wealthy investing in canvasses daubed with paint deemed by "experts" to be of great value which can then be seen as an asset and a tradable commodity - no matter what the appearance or meaning, if any, of such productions.
Not so long ago when Labour toyed with a list of assets the wealthy could be taxed on, in a not unsurprisingly inconsistent policy, art and jewellery were to be excluded.
Auction houses are doing well currently as Covid curtailed travel and spare cash is being invested in collectibles and paintings. Tax is limited to GST on seller and buyer premiums.
Christopher Luxon is making a lot of sense talking about curtailing wasteful spending instead of looking to tax more. Despite being denigrated in recent interviews for identifying some millions of dollars misspent, put them all together and the billions add up. Right on the money in my view.
Coralie van Camp, Remuera.
