Highly fertile ground has been covered in housing over successive generations and governments. Photo / Ted Baghurst, File
Highly fertile ground has been covered in housing over successive generations and governments. Photo / Ted Baghurst, File
Opinion
Productive soils It is heartening to see a minister talk of the value, the locations, and the urgent need for protection of our country's elite soils for food growing. Successive governments have blindly allowed so much permanent loss of this land to urban and lifestyle developments when the problem has beenraised many times by knowledgeable people. We can only hope that the mapping process is completed as soon as possible to halt further land being buried under concrete. After all, housing can be built almost anywhere, but topsoil types don't have that flexibility... they are where they are. They are one of our country's treasures for growing our daily food. What is more basic than food for people's survival, for their health, and for the economy? Locally grown it has a far lighter footprint than imports. These soils are vital for our growing population. If anything needs a bipartisan approach between our two major governing parties, this does. Rosanne Ludbrook, Hamilton.
Perfect vision The master-class in hindsight, as provided by your correspondent Jock Mac Vicar (NZ Herald, September 19) condemning the Government's Covid crisis response, seems heavily based on the Herald's more hysterical "Opinion" and "Comment" writers' corrosive outbursts, rather than the much more balanced analyses presented throughout the Pandemic in the Herald "Editorials". If there is an inquiry as he demands, he'll probably then criticise the Government for the cost, and for having made it "necessary" in the first place, through its incompetence. Oh, and that remarkably low death rate? Just luck, of course. Clyde Scott, Birkenhead.
Spent force Eddie Mann (NZ Herald, September 20) claims the money that could be spent on a Covid inquiry would be better spent on improving poverty, education, and housing. These are three of the key areas this Government was going "to fix" when it came into power. Had money not been thrown around frivolously to other causes which benefited a very small percentage of the population, it could already have been used in the three areas that Mann is concerned about. Janet Boyle, Ōrewa.
Grave concerns Is New Zealand's death rate among the lowest in the world? Yes. Is New Zealand's infection rate among the lowest in the world? Yes. Are there any questions that are more important than these two? No. Are some people still trying to make political capital out of what has been a health issue? Absolutely. Greg Cave, Sunnyvale.
Under the weather In response to "walking in the rain" from Gary Carter (NZ Herald, September 17), growing up in Scotland and the north of England, we rarely used a car other than for weekend outings and holidays. In many years of study and working in Edinburgh, I enjoyed walking, cycling, and using the bus in wind, rain, hail, sleet, and snow. But then in Scotland, there is no such thing as bad weather - just the wrong clothes. Helen Allen, Greenhithe.
Poor perception Here was the first real test for Christopher Luxon and he's failed. He had a chance to stand up for his principles and move the party on from the Collins era and he didn't. The public don't know what was found during the inquiry, as the National Party won't release the findings. However, they have clearly chosen to believe Sam Uffindell over the accuser and her father. This does not look good for National. Paul Kenny, Ponsonby.
National leader Christopher Luxon, right, stands behind Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell after a King's Counsel investigated claims of bullying. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Unless proven So, if an independent King's Counsel's review has cleared Sam Uffindell of the bullying charges made against him, one wonders why the press are now querying this decision. It seems that, regardless of the results of official reviews and trials, there are those who rigorously challenge the findings of those in a better position to judge than themselves. It begs the question as to what better process there would be to satisfy the doubters. Clearly, many of those innocently accused of a crime will never be fully accepted as free of blame in today's world. Alan Walker, St Heliers.
With respect I respect and admire all that Queen Elizabeth II achieved, and have difficulty in deciding what is more disrespectful or cynical - National announcing the result of Sam Uffindell's investigation on the day of the Queen's funeral, or our Prime Minister, in England for her funeral, predicting that our country, New Zealand, will likely be a republic within her lifetime. Brian Milestone, New Plymouth.
Women's work Correspondent Albert McGhee (NZ Herald, September 20) might consider the truth behind what he calls inequality. There is a gender pay gap because men do not take prime responsibility for children. Thus women are obliged to take stay home for more years than men and work fewer hours. Men are victims of murders but also the perpetrators in 87 per cent of cases. If they are not university graduates, it's not because women ban them from attending. It was only in 1920 that Oxford University, for example, allowed women to take a degree. Guess who prevented women prior to that time? Men. Men predominate in dirty and dangerous (and also higher-paid) occupations because women were told they were incapable of doing that work. Many of those industries didn't even provide toilets for women. Susan Grimsdell, Auckland Central.
Climate action Bernard Orsman (NZ Herald, September 15) reports on Wayne Brown's goals and ambitions as chair of the council. Brown says the decision of mayor Phil Goff and councillors to introduce a climate action targeted rate was a brave one. This statement contains the implication that he would not be able to continue with "brave decisions" of this nature. He sees a place for cycleways and bus lanes but that use must be sensible. In his language, "sensible" can be taken to mean no inconvenience for car drivers and at not too big a cost. Neither of these limitations will achieve the climate emissions reductions that are necessary. The city needs a mayor who will vigorously promote climate action to meet these goals. Is this person Wayne Brown? David Tyler, Beach Haven.
King's realism I wholly agree with Anne Martin (NZ Herald, September 19) headed "King's tough times". Added to her views, it was great to see the King acting honest and real. He knew the whole world was watching but he was not going to put on a false cool persona. God save King Charles. Carl Rosel, Freeman's Bay.
Delayed kick I am puzzled that, for all the commentary on Foley's alleged time-wasting, most recently your "lack of Kiwi empathy" (NZ Herald, September 16), not one single comment has addressed the salient fact that Foley had actually begun his run-up to take the kick when the whistle blew. I don't know what the law actually states about this but I would suggest that the run-up is part of the kick - unlike goal-post staring and arm-gesturing and rocking back and forth, etc - so the kick was under way. Ergo, my conclusion: the ref got it wrong. C Johnstone, Grey Lynn.
Short & sweet
On te reo We had compulsory French at school in the 1970s; now that was irrelevant. We were lucky to get to the North Island for a holiday, let alone France. Hamish Walsh, Devonport.
On Uffindell Grant Robinson said "bullying allegations need to be taken seriously". In other words, with a diplomatic posting? Wendy Tighe-Umbers, Parnell.
On rugby An answer to time-wasting in rugby would be to stop the clock for all penalties and conversions. Tony Molloy, Morrinsville.
Bernard Foley didn't take the kick in the last minute when he was told repeatedly to, and he kicked the conversion of Kellaway's try when told not to. Perhaps he has hearing problems? Paul Mason, Rothesay Bay.
On Parton Daron Parton's view - "Mummy's Home" (NZH, Sept. 20) - is absolutely delightful. It brought a real smile to my face, thank you. Ann Palmer, Pyes Pa.
On buslane One wheel over the line in Newmarket for a $150 fine? My car wheel, according to the photograph, looked to be about one inch over. No discount. Pamela Russell, Ōrākei.
Bit of a mixed message from the Government. After all, it was the Government that closed down all their competitors and allowed them to trade unopposed for months during the lockdowns. Now the same Government is complaining about profits. Anna S.
When the duopoly has shown to be almost completely devoid of corporate responsibility - what is left other than regulation and penalties? Oh, sorry, nothing should get in the way of exorbitant profit at the expense of ordinary New Zealanders. Brian H.
Completely devoid of corporate responsibility? You have no idea what both Foodstuffs and Countdown do in the communities. Exorbitant profit? Try Air NZ's $14,000 return fare to London, profit at the expense of ordinary New Zealanders or supply and demand? Paul E.
The difference is that there is lots of competition in the travel market and airlines, whereas people have to shop at the supermarkets and only have two options, and they've also sewn up the wholesale market to stop others from entering New Zealand. Stuart C.
Taxing and fining to drive behaviour changes like this is a fool's errand. The only effective foil to the abuse of market dominance by the supermarket duopoly is to break up the duopoly. Don't be scared of some whining from the store owners on the NZ Rich list. Christopher Tama M.
Great idea. Let's have some more government rules with high compliance costs. Maybe there could also be a new minister and department to administer them. Seph G.
