Glass half-full
New Zealand’s debt has gone from 20% of GDP to nearly 50% ... but nations like the United Kingdom, Canada and the United Sates have debt of more than 100% of GDP and Japan’s debt is 250%.
In an increasingly dangerous world New Zealand’s defence spending is woefully inadequate ... but the country sits in splendid isolation at the bottom of the South Pacific.
Our productivity is just not good enough ... but we can choose to make speculative property investment less attractive, and productive investment more. We can choose to support our agricultural industries with incentives and subsidies for best environmental and emissions standards, and we could even use this support as a marketing strategy.
Our race relations are under threat to the extent that tens of thousands of people marched on Parliament in protest ... but that protest contained not a hint of violence. In fact, it became a celebration of Māori unity and displayed the strengths of the culture of our indigenous people, a culture that makes NZ unique.
We should acknowledge that New Zealand and the world face significant challenges in the near future and facing and overcoming them will not be easy ... but we are a level-headed people with great geographical and climatic advantages, and we have shown in the past that we can have serious national conversations and adopt practical solutions.
The glass is still half-full.
John O’Neill, Dargaville.
Use of AI in war
According to the Washington Post article (Herald, January 4) the Israeli Defence Force is relying on advanced AI including a system called Lavender in its war on Gaza.
Machines are being used to direct attacks based on a personal scoring system that includes weighing factors such as multiple changes of address. Who has an “address” in Gaza these days?
No less sinister is the targeting of healthcare workers and facilities. The World Health Organisation has just told the Security Council that Israel has conducted 654 attacks on healthcare facilities since the latest war on Gaza began.
The UN estimates about 600 healthcare workers have been killed, and Palestinian medics say wearing a white coat or scrubs is tantamount to painting a target on their backs. With over 140 of their number killed journalists and media workers feel the same way about their press vests.
There will come a time when Israeli forces have to account for their denial of the necessities of life, and a death toll of well over 45,000 Palestinians with most women and children. The defence that “I was just following orders” will be no protection, whether or not a machine determined the targets.
Maire Leadbeater, Mt Albert.
Roof at the tennis
If this iconic annual sporting event is to flourish in the future a stadium roof is essential. January in Auckland often sees showery weather which disrupts the tournament year after year.
The major sponsor, ASB Bank NZ declared a profit after tax of about $1.5 billion in 2023 so could easily afford to finance this themselves.
The secondary sponsor, Manuka Doctor is said to earn more than $60 million in annual revenue so might be willing to help in a smaller capacity?
In my opinion, if nothing is done soon players will choose other competing events in either Brisbane and Sydney as their warm-up event for the Australian Open.
It has also been noticeable this year that on several days of the women’s event there were lots of empty seats. This is not surprising given the unpredictability of the weather.
A stadium roof I suggest would see every seat sold every day in future thus enhancing the financial viability of the event year after year. Win, win for everyone involved. A no brainer really.
Glen Stanton, Mairangi Bay.
Regarding the consented upgrade to the Tennis Centre’s Robinson Stand and new canopy roof that now needs funding.
The flagship event each year is the ASB Classic. ASB. The bank that in the last two years reported net profits after tax of $1.4b and $1.5b.
Here’s a wild and crazy idea … ASB, please set up a lasting legacy to Auckland (the same Auckland that is the “A” in ASB) and lead the funding so we can just get it done.
David Aitken, Takapuna.
PM stand-up
Could the real New Zealand Prime Minister please stand up. He seems to have disappeared. In his place there is a grinning David Seymour running the show – our daily news.
I politely request the elected Prime Minister recover his position immediately and start to do his job, as leader of the National Party which was elected to run this country.
Is the tail wagging the dog?
Helen Overton, Mt Eden.
