Heather du Plessis-Allan fails to mention Michael Woodhouse, the promulgator of the false rumour about a homeless man getting into a Covid-19 hotel, says Julie Girvan. Photo / Newstalk ZB
Opinion
Woodhouse one of Nats' bad apples
Daron Parton's view
In her opinion piece ("Nats should have cleaned house", HoS, June 6), Heather du Plessis-Allan cites several examples of National Party members present and past who have seriously let the team down.
However, she fails to mention Michael Woodhouse, the promulgator of the
false rumour about a homeless man getting into a Covid-19 hotel. At the National Party's Mainland Region Conference in April 2012, a Facebook group photo shows Woodhouse posing with a bright-blue toilet seat with a photo of Clare Curran on it. This was the prize for a debate. This had a profoundly negative effect on Curran who said amongst other things "it is just nasty".
Where is that perpetrator of that jape now? Michael Woodhouse is deputy shadow leader of the House and National's spokesman for finance and transport. Is National so short of talent that it allows a man capable of such a deeply unpleasant and unkind act to hold such a high position?
Julie Girvan, Whangārei
Cycling spend is worth it
Kerre McIvor suggests using taxpayer funds on moving people from cars to bicycles and walking is "pedalling while Rome burns". Not quite. The point is to stop Rome burning.
Anyone who thinks cycling is a frivolous expense must still be in denial about climate change. Kerre might keep in mind that "red alert" weather like that experienced in South Canterbury is what we can expect more of if we don't reduce our carbon emissions rapidly. Cycling is a serious and beneficial strategy, with excellent health benefits as well.
That said, if we can pay $785million for the cycling, surely we could find another 30 for the Ashburton bridge.
Chris Clarke, St Heliers
Commentators not super
Much has been written and spoken about transtasman Super Rugby, the plusses and the minuses. But surely the biggest minus has got to be the Australian commentators. Lockdown last year gave us a reprieve from them, and I had forgotten how nauseating they were.
Phil Chitty, Albany
