Letter of the week: Anne Bennett, Mātangi
Your sad Review article (Weekend Herald, April 3) included a sub-item: "Why it's difficult to get solid data." This referred to the high number of people who
Stand up and be counted. The next Census is due to be taken in March, 2023. Photo / Doug Sherring, File
Your sad Review article (Weekend Herald, April 3) included a sub-item: "Why it's difficult to get solid data." This referred to the high number of people who
aren't being screened for diabetes.
Our country is now accustomed to accounting for Covid-related cases, MIQ spaces and vaccinations.
Every single one of our "team of 5 million" though has a legal obligation to complete five-yearly Census documentation. Comprehensive Census data informs planning for every aspect of our public sector, including health services.
New Zealand is now on the pathway towards the next nationwide Census in 2023. I encourage everyone throughout this country to seize this opportunity and make a personal commitment to be counted.
A complete Census count could enable DHBs to be better funded for health services and invest in all our community's growing needs.
Mark Evans (Weekend Herald, April 3) misses the point. Every house a landlord owns is one less available for a first home buyer and that is where the current crisis is.
Furthermore as tenants, household disposable income shrinks and the numbers of homeless grows; there is less money for them to spend and the economy shrinks with it.
Our family have invested in commercial property and especially in industry that makes a profit and increases employment earning opportunities and adds to the country's GDP.
It's not a question of envy, as Mark suggests, it is a question of wise investment.
Investment in industry and agriculture is far-seeing and promotes economic growth. Investment in housing, as out of control as it is at present, does the exact opposite.
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
To travel overseas In the 1960s and 1970s, one carried a Department of Health New Zealand folder with the certificates of the relevant vaccinations required. In those days one needed a vaccination against against smallpox; and later against yellow fever and typhoid and paratyphoid, which I received in London before travelling to the Middle East for work comittments. The Covid 19 vaccination it is surely no different.
Regarding Dr Harold Coop's letter (Weekend Herald, April 3) I'd like to add the observation that during my nursing training, to see the outcomes of children not vaccinated against measles, rubella, etc was terrible.
Annette Stewart, Greenlane.
We have been travelling to the regions on public holidays and hope it's helping the tourism industry.
Unfortunately, this Good Friday, the road works from Auckland through Hamilton to Rotorua made it a six-hour drive. Why can't they make the roads on weekdays instead of torturing the travellers on public holidays? This could also have saved the taxpayers a packet, one and a half times on wages.
What goodwill and sanity does this promote?
Nishi Fahmy, Avondale.
We are concerned about falling maths standards in New Zealand schools and, equally, I am concerned about the faulty maths logic of investors like Troy Bowker of Caniwi Capital (Weekend Herald, April 3).
I loved the letter from Rowan Hill (NZ Herald, April 5) who exposed Troy's faulty logic.
Additionally, Troy needs to reflect on how the recent tax changes are about assisting first-time buyers, not about tax free capital gains of investors.
Grant Clark, Epsom.
In 1974, 29 years after Japan surrendered the second world war, Hiroo Onoda surrendered to allied forces.
New York has now legalised cannabis, joining 29 other states to fly the white flag in America's war on drugs.
The question is, will New Zealand surpass Hiroo Onoda's record in fighting a war that the initiator has long given up on?
Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
Saturday, I have lots of jobs to do so will just have a quick skim through Canvas (Weekend Herald, April 3) and cut out the Observer cryptic for later.
But Diana Wichtel's history of her homes - must read that; delightful articles about Sam Neill and his chickens; and Kate Evans and feijoas. The Reverend Canon Christopher Douglas-Huriwai looks interesting, what's he about? And so on and so on.
An hour or so later, shelves not dusted, windows not polished but reading about such lovely people around us makes the world look brighter.
People seem to be very excited about the forthcoming transtasman travel bubble. From childhood, I remember the trouble with bubbles is they tend to go "pop". David Trower, Auckland Central.
St John Ambulance should be Government funded, just like the police and without need for charity. Ron Chamberlain, Tauranga.
A large number of people would far rather see the ambulance service receive funding than taxpayer-funded quarantine. Susan Schultz, Red Beach.
We urgently need a law to protect our police, such as doubling sentences for assaults, so it will not stop people choosing the important role as a career. Murray Hunter, Titirangi.
One of the few times in recent years I wish I could join my friends and family in the USA or Britain, virtually all of whom have been vaccinated. Tony Marks, Ōmaha Beach.
One simple way to control the onslaught of type 2 diabetes is for the government to legislate the quantity of sugar per 100g. What is so difficult about this? Peter Thomas, Hamilton.
Should a retailer, who opens on a day they should be legally shut, take action against someone who breaks a law in their shop, such as a shoplifter? Or should they just say "snap"? Neil Arnold, Mt Roskill.
Two years ago, for mile after mile, we saw apples rotting on the ground near Hastings. Covid had not even been heard of then. Alan Penney, Silverdale.
The homeless crisis in Rotorua is due to the arrival of several thousand immigrants in less than five years combined with very few houses being built. C.C. McDowall, Rotorua.
Could some agency please take responsibility for stopping this anti-social behaviour from noisy car stereos? Sue Gallahar, Māngere East.
The Westpac move is a great opportunity for the NZ Government to change its' patronage to Kiwibank who should be up to the challenge now after all the taxpayer money poured into it. Terry Leonard, Pukekohe.
The Government is looking at electricity costs. Just like groceries and petrol prices - I'm not holding my breath. Pim Venecourt, Pāpāmoa.
Karens: they are us. Mike Wagg, Freemans Bay.
No evidence that Tiger Woods was impaired? Anyone who drives at twice the legal speed limit on a public road has to be impaired. Renton Brown, Pukekohe.
Auckland Airport said delays were expected.