Letters: Health services, strawberries, opening borders, tree protection and the America's Cup

Six hospital services in Auckland and Northland were deemed 'vulnerable' after a major review of the regional health system following Covid-19 lockdowns last year. Photo / Janna Dixon, File

Letter of the week: Mary Hearn, Glendowie

The report on "vulnerable" hospital services (Weekend Herald, March 20) was filled with defensive language obscuring the severity of the fragmented services in some DHBs. Here's the reality.
Four years ago, my son was diagnosed with two neuromas on the brain. They are, for the most part, benign tumours that are monitored regularly to chart their growth rate. If they do grow, there can be frightening and debilitating symptoms. The most recent MRI has identified one has grown.
The circus we had to go through to identify that growth has been over five months of begging and cajoling, whilst his symptoms worsened.
We are now almost six months into a battle and many requests later, to get an appointment with the Neurology Department at Auckland Hospital.
The unrelenting stress and fear this causes a family in a supposedly good "postcode healthcare" system can be as harmful as the condition itself. As many parents can attest, it is heartbreaking to watch the light going out of the eyes of a child you cherish most in this world. Countless other families are suffering just as much, if not more than us, so hopefully this review will produce real and meaningful change.
As a comical footnote, we were more than willing to pay over-inflated premiums to any company willing to insure our son. None were.

Came a cropper

Your article on Perrys Berrys' demise (March 20) is dismal reading and is a massive blow for the strawberry Industry.
Perrys Berrys is one of the biggest supplies of strawberries on the domestic market and one of the leading exporters of strawberries. With over 1 million plants, each plant producing more than one punnet of strawberries, the loss in the domestic market is huge. This will mean more Australian fumigated strawberries in our supermarkets if local-grown product cannot fill their requirements.
The repercussions to the horticulture industry will be huge. The company also employs many lower-skilled persons mainly of Pacific heritage who relied on income for their families.
The company was also involved in the processing of second-grade fruit into products such as ice cream and yoghurt flavouring, fruit topping and frozen fruit. This was also very important to other local suppliers who when suffering from hail damage etc would take damaged fruit to Perrys Berrys for processing.
This is a sad day for the horticulture sector - and all because of the lack of being able to obtain workers due to the Government response to Covid-19.
Alan J Cibilich, Hillsborough.

Door mouse

"We need to open up as soon as we safely can" is Steven Joyce's billion-dollar last line (Weekend Herald, March 20). His whole article hinges on it. One word: "safely". He has no formula that predicates a simple answer.
Tell the whole of NZ when that is. The whole of the EU would love your wisdom. The right wing never mentions failures, just like the nuclear industry wants to forget Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
Actually, ask Brazil when it's "safe" - the next failure happening right before our eyes. We are relatively "successful" right now in the eyes of the world.
Painting us as failure is a right-wing narrative pulling the wool down over our eyes to obscure the world's failures. Italy, the first failure, is still opening and shutting like an automatic door triggered by a shrivelled mouse. When they can open; we can too.
How long before the "world" reaches herd immunity is the real question.
Steve Russell, Hillcrest.

Fell-ter skelter

I would like to add my voice in support of recent correspondents, including that of Colleen Stairmand (Weekend Herald, March 20) regarding the felling of both mature native and exotic trees.
I was appalled and aggrieved recently to witness a beautiful, mature (100 years +) healthy oak tree fall to developers' saws.
Situated in the garden of a retirement village/rest home, residents derived a great deal of pleasure in seeing this tree change colour with the seasons, watching the birdlife and hearing their joyful song throughout the year, particularly in the spring when they started mating and undertaking the long and intricate task of building nests for their young.
This country aesthetically needs more exotic trees as well as natives to reflect its cultural heritage. To execute all the exotics on Mt Albert is unnecessary. This attack, plus the Avondale one and other similar planned forays on to other Auckland mountains, is nothing short of authorised vandalism.
Patricia Grinlinton, Devonport.

Making waves

The part played by the creation of a "Secret Sailor" as an America's Cup correspondent, has proved to be inspired. His anonymity (presumably he?) has allowed him the independence and freedom to openly express views that are not constrained by any past associations with the main players.
His back story, we are told, includes top international yachting experience "with a strong history in the America's Cup". His commentaries of the racing were perceptive. His somewhat ominous warnings for the future, particularly as they relate to Dan Bernasconi (Weekend Herald, March 20) are both timely and well-founded.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.

Still running

It's good to see that Corben Simpson has survived (Canvas, March 20) I have always liked Dance All Around The World, credited to Blerta.
I became aware who he was and used to hear him ring talkback radio.
His one solo album Get Up With The Sun is on Spotify and I had been listening to it for several weeks when I saw the article.
At the risk of oversimplifying I think this man was a flawed genius and his story should be told.
Never reaching his full potential he is one amazing guitar player.
Listen to Running To The Sea, if nothing else.
David Patterson, Levin.

A quick word

Most Australians, but not all, sadly, cringe when the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration says anything. "Taking out the trash" was one of his crudest and most vile statements which makes us deeply embarrassed and appalled. John Brennan, Perth, WA.

Can you eat kindness or use it to pay the rent? Why isn't all income taxable? Tony Jurd, Waiheke.

I visited the proposed site of the Erebus memorial at Sir Dove-Myer Robinson park and it is not a place for quiet contemplation due to constant traffic, train and helicopter noise.
Peter Cowley, Mt Roskill.

At 60 minutes into the Blues/Crusaders game, there had been 23 penalties. One every two and a half minutes. This is supposed to be a great game. Keith May, Mellon's Bay.

A referee with symptoms of St Vitus Dance and one team who knows how to play the game for 80 minutes. Will rugby continue to hold our attention if played under the current stop-start rules? Reg Dempster, Albany.

I'm just relieved that Steven Joyce is barking from the sidelines - not steering the ship. Bill Mathews, Auckland Central.

Property will not ease from being purchased for investment until the banks increase their term deposit rates. Karola Wheeler, West Harbour.

Unclip the clip-ons on the existing weakening Auckland Harbour bridge and use it for cyclists and pedestrians - and build a stronger bridge for transport. Morag Forgie, Howick.

Why am I reminded of the Colosseum when I see people wining and dining while watching two grown men trying to smash each other to the point of permanent brain injury? At least humans have the choice; animals in rodeos appear to have little. Peter Smith, Devonport.

Twenty years ago, anti-vaxxers caused much unnecessary doubt and worry among mothers about vaccinating against the deadly meningococcal disease. Fortunately, many sensible women chose to ignore them. Pamela Russell, Ōrākei.

Tourism NZ paid $918,000, almost a million dollars, for a 4-minute recording of Rod Stewart singing Sailing at the America's Cup. I would have sung for them for half that. H. Robertson, St Heliers.

So crime figures dropped during lock-down. Judges, please take note: keep the crims locked up. Michael England, Ōrewa.

Cabinet has agreed "in principle" on the date of beginning of the transtasman bubble. The Prime Minister will formally announce it on April 6. Or maybe we will get to know before that via a tweet from Clarke Gayford. Mahendra Kumar, Ōtāhuhu.

This letter is to announce that, in 15 days, I'm going to send another letter. Keith Berman, Remuera.