'Many of us believe that there are far too many MPs.' Photo / Mark Mitchell
Save money? Halve the number of MPs
The Government appears to be modelling their public servant reductions on Robert Muldoon’s “sinking lid” policies, rather than on an informed assessment of staffing needed to provide government services.
One of these lids is limiting our ability to target="_blank"> employ adequate numbers of registered nurses, even when enough have recently been trained.
Another anomaly is the underfunding of primary care services, despite the need to shield hospitals from patients who can better be treated by GP medical centres.
Politicians glibly talk of resourcing frontline services rather than backrooms.
Many of us believe that there are far too many MPs and that 60 or fewer could deal adequately with representation and parliamentary processes.
A considerable reduction in MP numbers would have no effect on so-called frontline services and would save bloated costs of salaries, allowances, subsidised accommodation, superannuation, travel and secretarial services.
We are often scratching our heads when other countries elect geriatric leaders, but our younger politicians’ lack of historical perspective allows them to repeat the failed policies of past governments.
Hugh Webb, Huntington.
Saudi sport
The Weekend Herald editorial must be applauded for calling out Fifa’s announcement of awarding Saudi Arabia the hosting rights of the men’s Football World Cup in 2034 (Dec 14).
Many international sporting bodies over the years have succumbed to geopolitical pressures and shown a lack of courage and moral conviction to do what is right.
As referenced, football is not alone in dancing to Saudi oil-based riches and the emergence of the LIV golf league has attracted a number of the world’s top golfers, some in their prime, to walk away from both the US and European PGA.
Despite a teams-based “Mickey Mouse” format and limited playing season, the monetary rewards on offer have trumpeted all other considerations.
Odds on Jeddah, the second largest Saudi city on the Red Sea, will play host to the next America’s Cup. The announcement awaits due diligence but the criteria driving the decision points in one direction.
Saudi Arabia has no history or legacy in football, golf or sailing and turning a blind eye to human rights for self-interest and monetary reward is not, and will never be, a good look.
Bruce Eliott, St Heliers.
Gun reform
Professor Alexander Gillespie raises relevant points in his evaluation of our firearms reform compared to the Canadian model (NZ Herald, Dec 16).
However, his desire for New Zealand’s gun registration system to rise above politics isn’t a realistic goal, given that Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee was the former spokesperson for the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners and has been unable to explain how the proposed reforms won’t water down compliance and regulatory rules for gun clubs and ranges, while enhancing public safety.
Another issue is Canada has a dedicated pool of funding for their gun registry and allows them to form cohesive partnerships between police, community agencies and researchers, as well as mandatory reporting from gun clubs regarding any suspect behaviour from their members.
New Zealand is experiencing funding cuts across many sectors, and it would be unlikely the coalition would devote any further funding to firearm safety. New Zealand Police have done a remarkable job to date (amongst their many other duties) and in seven months have registered 100,00 firearms and digitised the licensing system giving greater capability in detecting unlawful activity.
Additionally, it would be a “nice to have” to receive funding to enable our police to understand gang culture and gun violence (as in Canada), but through their everyday interactions they already possess that knowledge and how to reduce that risk.
Undoubtedly New Zealand faces challenges regarding gun reform but removing regulatory and compliance oversight from the police would create greater challenges and be detrimental to the public safety of New Zealanders.
Mary Hearn, Glendowie.
Xmas celebrations
In response to Ryan Bridge’s comments in “Pardon my jingle-ish, but Merry Christmas all” (NZ Herald, Dec 18) I’ve never felt any need to be apologetic about Chrismas.
It’s a northern hemisphere middle of winter celebration, basically celebrating one’s survival so far, with additional celebrating to last one into spring. Its original form, the Yuletide celebrations, among the Germanic-language-speaking tribes of Northern Europe seems to have consisted of bonfires and getting drunk, eating too much, etc, as a way of thumbing one’s nose at the freezing cold.
Other forms of the same type of celebration exist around the place - Hanukkah, tied by Jewish tradition to a siege of Jerusalem where the lamps allegedly kept burning in spite of running out of olive oil, has the same feel, and so does the Indian festival of Diwali, another Festival of Light in the middle of the northern hemisphere winter, though adapted for the subtropical and tropical climate of India.
In New Zealand, in the southern hemisphere, Māori had another middle-of-winter celebration, Matariki, for much the same reasons. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s winter, but we’re still here, still alive, and we’re going to celebrate it.
There’s no reason to apologise for Christmas, even if you’re ignorant of the religious reasons behind the particular form it takes in New Zealand. I’ve never met anyone who’s offended by it - though I have found some interesting comments on the absurdity of a winter celebration in the middle of summer.
Wesley Parish, Tauranga.
Immigration balance
Immigration is a hot topic, especially when it comes to balancing the benefits and challenges of welcoming new residents.
New Zealand’s points-based system aims to ensure that immigrants contribute positively to the country. Medical costs are indeed a significant factor in this process, as the healthcare system is already under strain.
Correspondent Rosemary Mackenzie’s letter raises an important point about the potential benefits of allowing an applicant with a son who has autism to immigrate (NZ Herald, Dec 17).
While the estimated $81,000 for medical and educational costs might seem high (this figure must have been plucked out of the sky) it’s virtually impossible to predict these expenses accurately due to the ever-changing nature of healthcare costs.
It’s crucial to consider the broader picture. While we have many talented applicants, being selective is essential to maintain a sustainable healthcare system.
Refugees, on the other hand, are assessed under different criteria, reflecting their unique circumstances and needs. Balancing compassion and practicality is key in immigration policies.
Ian MacGregor, Greenhithe.
Hero salute
It’s very strange how we interpret a hero in our midst, usually through the pursuit of mountains scaled, the discovery of life-saving medication, or more importantly, soldiers who venture forth on to battlefields on our behalf to save our souls, while protecting the way we live.
However, Simon Wilson selects public servant Rod Carr as our hero (NZ Herald, Dec 17). On our behalf and with scientific evidence, he has ventured on to different battlefields, those where people still wield shields and use weasel words as weapons to create a mist of delusion, all to defend we humans from the threat facing us as we continue along the deadly road of poisoning our planet.
With little care, we selfishly continue using fossil fuels and ignore the deliberate slowing down of safety measures needed.
Thank you Rod Carr. You will never be given a medal for your bravery, but may I thank you on behalf of all life to come, those that will suffer the most from the consequences of poor governance and greed.
Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.
Seen on a quiet side street in Epsom: two men with a small van repairing doors on a Vector electrical enclosure on the grass berm. A bit further down the road: a large traffic management truck warning of the work going on, with two further men sitting in the cab looking at their phones, with the engine running, presumably to maintain their air-conditioned environment. Traffic management would have more than doubled the cost of this repair work. And yet we wonder why infrastructure is so expensive in this country?
Graeme Scott, Grafton.
Early childhood providers are making the education of toddlers more complicated than gaining a PhD. The main reason early childhood education has morphed into such a business is not because parents see a lack of interaction with their toddler’s peers putting them behind; they simply need someone to babysit them while they go to work. What follows is anxious parents paranoid about their child’s development at the hands of strangers, and the providers making sure that their policies protect them from the health and safety nightmare whilst ensuring they are not held accountable for all things that might go wrong.
John Ford, Taradale.
At a sentencing for wounding with intent to injure (maximum penalty seven years imprisonment), Judge Davidson of Porirua referred to the “significant, if not profound” impact the offending had on the two victims and their whānau. The result – nine months home detention. No wonder people of oppressed regimes want to come to live here. Like their countries, there is no justice here.
Ian Doube, Rotorua.
Given the antiquity of the entertainers mentioned this is a very old joke. But given the latest bad news about our economy, the joke is still very pertinent. America has Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Stevie Wonder. New Zealand has no cash, no hope - and it is no bloody wonder.
CC McDowall, Rotorua.
It must be a real surprise to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance that when you spend all your time saying our country is in a terrible state and make thousands of people redundant so that they are leaving in droves for Australia that the result is the Government’s tax take is down. Clearly neither would win Mastermind.
Gil Laurenson, Eastern Beach.
The Government deliberately depresses the economy and then wonders what’s happened. Its answer is more of the same. I think economists call it neo-liberalism; from what I have read it has never worked except for the wealthy. The poor just get poorer because they are the ones who have to bear the brunt of such policies. It’s time it was replaced by a different philosophy.
David Hood, Hamilton.
I wonder how many people that support the public-private partnership concept have reflected on the fact the harbour bridge would still be “tolled” today had that mechanism been used to construct it. It’s a pay-twice scheme. The fuel or road user charges, plus the toll and it is never paid off.
Andrew Barry, Tauranga.
Congratulations to the two benefactors who rescued David Letele’s foodbank. The timing was perfect so that 1000 more families will have a decent food parcel for Christmas.
Dave Miller, Tauranga.
Pope Francis has condemned surrogacy as morally repugnant. Presumably there’s a dispensation for Mary, Mother of God?
Jane Livingstone, Remuera.
The 19-year-old disappeared without her wallet or mobile phone.