Emotional scenes as passengers arriving from Sydney are greeted by family at Wellington Airport. Photo / Mark Mitchell
I have just returned from Sydney on flight NZ104, having had a few lovely days visiting my two daughters. It was both saddening and joyful to see the reunion of so many friends and family members at the arrivals lounge at Auckland Airport. Tears, hugs, screams…you name it.
As
happy as I was to see my daughters and to witness the scenes at the airport today, I can't help but feel sad and frustrated. The Australian Federal Government opened Australia up to New Zealanders back in September to arrive quarantine free - clearly grasping the infinitesimal risk of transtasman Covid transmission and seeing the need to open up our closely intertwined countries. Why the New Zealand Government had a totally different risk assessment and effectively kept the borders closed until today is beyond me. I don't think Jacinda Ardern and her Government should be congratulating themselves when they have kept so many friends and family's apart for so long and for no sensible reason.
An audit on that decision would be more appropriate.
Now the Government should move to quarantine-free travel among the Pacific Islands (which by and large have never had any Covid) with some urgency.
Warren Couillault, Remuera.
The Immigration Ministry is to be congratulated on its cost-saving move to apparently employ IDM (Inflexible Decision Making) robots instead of paying salaries to intelligent and reasonable decision-making humans who would waste time considering many apparent logical exceptions to policy that the Herald has reported over many months, that have been refused by their IDMs.
A recent example is Lydia O'Donnell being stranded in isolated quarantine while her seriously ill father suffers, because she applied to return from Australia just days before the borders were opened to quarantined-free returning Kiwis.
Her case for exemption is not just on compassionate grounds, it is on the sensible and reasonable grounds that those who are arriving a few days later than her, and are no more Covid-free than her, roam free while she is restrained in her hotel. As one of New Zealand's top distance runners, she is so finely tuned physically that any sign of a virus would be magnified anyway.
Dave Norris, Mangawhai Heads.
There are many more speed restrictions and road bumps in Auckland. They are designed to make the roads safer.
So their only justification must be that the number of accidents, injuries and deaths is declining.
The council should issue those numbers, not only for Auckland as a whole but also for the particular roads that have had "traffic calming" measures introduced.
In that way, ratepayers, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians will know whether or not the nearly $100 million has been well spent.
Nick Hamilton, Remuera.
Sexual misconduct at educational institutes [shows they] have failed to protect the vulnerabilities of those students.
Of significance is that it simply took too long, and prevarication took precedence over action. This outcome is alarming because those "who knew" and those "who dusted it under the carpet" must have been aware and were afraid for their positions. Their roles took precedence over the safety of their students.
Situations such as sexual misconduct, propositions that precede sexual innuendoes, and capturing vulnerable students in their "moments" of emotional oscillation are too often under-reported.
However, global information clearly outlines the permanent scars of sexual misconduct. We know these behaviours are not new and have historical permeations. But we also know that students deserve the utmost respect at any educational institute from early childhood to tertiary education. Too often, we hear of these events, even recently, and for both males and females.
It is time to legislate for educational employment situations not only to collect sexual misconduct events about their employees, but to ensure employees are required to report events they might see and students to be surveyed annually as to whether there are less than desirable events.
Dr Judy Selvaraj, Hobsonville Pt.
Loneliness (NZ Herald, April 19) these days is aggravated by the P-word - privacy.
In the "old days" new neighbours were greeted by the ubiquitous plate of scones or jar of homemade marmalade. Now such overtures seem to be regarded as an invasion of privacy.
The response to a friend's greeting over the garden fence to a new neighbour was, "what are you after?"
An acquaintance called at a new neighbour's house and said, "Hello, I'm Jennifer and I live next door". "I know," said the resident - and closed the door.
Anne Martin, Helensville.
What a bad attack on us old folks, Boomers, abusing drugs (NZ Herald, April 19).
As an 81-year-old man, I am one of many Baby Boomers who have serious osteoarthritis with lots of pain for which there is no cure. Old age is the body wearing out and is normal.
There is no other treatment than drugs to block the pain and, without them, the pain would kill us.
Be kind to us and say it is okay to take any of the drugs available over the counter or prescribed by our doctor.
Gary Courtenay, Red Beach.
I have solar panels and, like most solar owners, export excess electricity to the grid. For this I am paid $0.08/kWh. My electricity imports cost $0.27/kWh. I export around half of the electricity I produce so, to maximise my in-house use and minimise expensive imports I had a timer fitted to my hot water cylinder.
This limits the time my water heater is active to between midday and 4pm daily. This coincides roughly with maximum solar production and reduces my imports for water heating.
A month ago, the power authorities installed a new, "smart-meter". After a few days of monitoring it was clear something was wrong. On investigation I found the new setup diverted the electricity supply for water heating on to a separate channel in the new meter.
This prevents my solar energy from reaching the hot water system.
Now, when my hot water is heating, I must import all 3kW required (at $0.27/kWh) while simultaneously exporting up to 2.5kW of excess solar back to the grid (at $0.08/kWh).
I am trying to get someone from the power company to address this; so far only "automated replies".
Stewart Lind, Beachlands.
It is long overdue for the Minister of Conservation to urgently review the need and sustainability of existing and proposed marinas.
The tragedy is that these marinas occupy former public open space, being part of the Waitematā Harbour, able to be used by all Aucklanders. The reclamations adjoining the marinas were justified to be used exclusively for marine-related uses and boat storage - not commercial real estate to be used for exclusive, multimillion-dollar apartments which can be built anywhere.
Outstanding, visionary conservationists - such as the late Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, the late Darcy O'Brien, Commissioner of Crown Lands for the former Department of Lands and Survey and foundation chairperson of the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Islands Maritime Park, and Sir Arnold Turner, who provided the inspiration for the Auckland Regional Park system - would view this direction with increasing alarm and as something that must be stopped now.
Bruce Tubb, Belmont.
Watching Kris Faafoi being interviewed about reuniting families split by the Covid lockdown reinforces my view that this Government says all the right things about being kind while doing the exact opposite in practice. A more inept follower of the party line is hard to imagine.
Show some common decency and get these families reunited instead of hiding behind endless excuses while doing nothing. If we can find space for the Wiggles, etc, there is room for these families.
James Archibald, Birkenhead.
Some players in the Nats team are on manoeuvres. Like many side-line critics with rugby teams, I have a suggestion. Bring in a talented "outside" player who is vocal and has all of the answers to our problems.
Get this new player to join forces as a vice-captain and captain combo with Chris Bishop. Chris has continual media presence and also seems to have all the answers to our current problems. I am suggesting bringing in from "right-field" Mike Hosking to team up with Chris Bishop to run the Nats team. Mike would have to take a significant pay-cut, but hey, what a team.
Peter Jamieson, Titirangi.
On Anzac Day
After no public services on Anzac Day last year we need to totally stand proud with love, and our heartfelt tributes to lay at cenotaphs and cemeteries this Sunday. God bless our war heroes. Wendy Joy Baker, Nightcaps.
On electricity
Interesting article from the power companies advising they may be short of power due to the low levels of water in the hydro lakes. What will this mean for the increasing numbers of EVs? Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.
On Hosking
Has Mike Hosking flown to Australia for his AstraZeneca vaccination yet? P. Barker, Whakatane.
On ports
The obvious solution is to privatise the Port of Auckland yet the Labour leaders of the Government, council and unions would never consider this. Seemingly they prefer the economic damage and fatal consequences of keeping the status quo. M Beck, Remuera.
On vaccinations
The slow vaccination roll-out needs a good shot in the arm. Neil Hatfull, Warkworth.
On partners
Dancing with the Dragon and flying with the Eagle has become a somewhat perilous "walk" for NZ. Any weakening of ties with our traditional allies is not in my view, in NZ's best interests. But then, no one has asked us, have they? June Kearney, West Harbour.
On Australia
So, the Australians want New Zealand workers. How about they welcome back the 501s they sent us? Cecil Croucher, Mt Eden.
The 19-year-old was found in a remote area in the hills of Upper Hutt.