Everybody, freeze
During lockdowns, I don't think wage subsidy and government support for businesses is the best approach. Why not freeze the economy instead?
During the freeze period, this would basically involve no wages being paid to those not working, no ongoing residential or commercial rents being incurred (premises free
during freeze), no debts to be paid until after freeze (with generous repayment terms) and no accrued interest, and no mortgage repayments required or interest on such.
Basically, during the freeze, people would only need money for groceries. People would live off their savings until they're exhausted and thereafter rely on free government funding for groceries.
I believe this approach would mean that after the freeze most businesses could start up again where they left off and the government would be in a far better fiscal position to help those most in need during and after the freeze.
David Kidd, Ohauiti.
Lonely funeral
I feel compelled to share from experience a deep sense of loss of not being able to be physically and emotionally present to farewell my beautiful mum who passed away recently. During this Level 4 lockdown I am grieving alongside family and friends and am now faced with a surreal situation that is far from ideal where I must now say goodbye to my mum without being surrounded by the support of family and friends. Death is final and simply can not be planned for at a later date like a wedding, party, conference or other event.
If Covid is here to stay, we seriously need to think more deeply about how we manage the death of our loved ones.
Surely, a small bubble of 10 or five could perhaps be appropriate during level 4 for a funeral? What if family have had Covid vaccinations?
A person should have the right to dignity and respect in death as they do in life, to have some family present when they are buried or cremated.
It's certainly not what I envisaged for my very much loved mum.
Hazel Spinnler, Sunnyhills.
Who waives the rules?
So in the lockdown Alert Level 4 you can buy liquor in Waitakere or Avondale, but not in Remuera or Tauranga. You can buy food in a dairy, but not in a butcher shop, greengrocer or fish shop.
Who makes these idiotically inconsistent regulations that put people out of business? Probably the same folk who prescribe a 30-hour course for using your VHF (safety radio) on a boat, but do not require any demonstration of capability to operate the boat.
Ericson List, Pāpāmoa Beach.
Compliance costs
After 30 years of running a small business, I know the pain of compliance costs. Provisional tax is one, generally calculated by your accountant, therefore adding another cost. Also, if the provisional tax amount isn't paid, the IRD imposes further costs.
Small business, it is often said, is the backbone of our country, and most fail within the first five years.
Covid has created further failure for the small business. I know it would be a perfect world if we all had reserves of capital put aside for such events, however this is not a perfect world or Covid wouldn't exist.
This Saturday is provisional tax day. Our current Government would be doing us all a huge favour to abolish this outdated cost, especially at this difficult time.
Yes, the Government has offered wage subsidies, but this does nothing for the actual business owner, it doesn't pay their bills or the additional cost of refinancing their private home to keep their business functioning.
Very soon, the cafe you buy your morning coffee from, or the plumber you call in when your toilet is blocked will not be around. Reduce compliance costs and you may just save one from going under.
Delwyn Dingle, Whangārei.