Letters: Poverty measure, Māori science and the Korean war

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made addressing child poverty a cornerstone of her leadership. Photo / Mark Mitchell, File

Poverty line
How they loved to berate National but now we hear, despite Labour's claim that Jacinda Ardern will fix it, child poverty continues to increase (NZ Herald, July 27).
Whilst the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Government continue to make the absurd claim that poverty is visited on everyone, and their children, with household income less than "50 per cent of the median income before housing costs", no one can ever solve the problem.

Child Poverty in New Zealand. Illustration / Rod Emmerson

Given that median income is defined as "the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount" then, even if the earnings of everyone in NZ was immediately increased by a million dollars a year, half of us would be below the 50 per cent median and thus continue to be poverty-stricken using this measure.
Rather than trying to make political capital off the back of such nonsensical measurements, perhaps CPAG and the government should put some effort into giving us some actual figures which we might then be persuaded to believe and act upon.
John Denton, Napier.

Objective science
The current era of widespread misinformation has reinforced the primacy of dispassionate reason and evidence.
It was therefore disappointing to see that in response to her colleagues' letter in the NZ Listener about what constitutes scientific knowledge, Auckland University Vice-Chancellor Dawn Freshwater issued an email (NZ Herald, July 29) that failed to address the specific content of the letter, and relied instead on a claim to grievance (the notion that indigenous knowledge is not science generated "hurt and dismay").
Her hypothesis that "Māori and Western empirical science…have much to learn from each other" misses the basic concept in the Listener letter that objective science is not essentially Western, or in fact coupled to any culture or ethnicity.
But that issue aside, the applicability of Māori knowledge to our modern understanding of reality and its teaching should not be affected by hurt feelings.
Ben Sanders, Hauraki.

Difficult pricks
It is no surprise that the few people have booked for the mass vaccination event in South Auckland (NZ Herald, July 28). The process involves each person getting an invitation; struggling with a horrible booking system; then travelling to a distant venue and wasting half a day. We want the jabs, it is all too hard.
If anyone in the Ministry of Health or District Health Board is listening, what I want is to go to my GP or local medical centre with the whole family, see medical staff we know
and trust, and get it done quickly.
I suspect that most New Zealanders of all social groups feel the same.
What is so difficult about that, and why can't the administrators understand it?
Alan McArdle, Glen Eden.

Border shambles
The present Minister of Immigration, Kris Faafoi, is the embodiment of the Peter Principle which states that a person will rise through the ranks of an organisation until they reach their level of incompetency.
We now have a situation where his department will not let in skilled workers, but because they are also faffing around in issuing visas to skilled people already here, those workers are leaving the country.
There are also the heart-wrenching stories of immigrants who came here in good faith expecting that their families could follow,but the Muppets-In-Charge now won't allow that, so yet again, we are losing the very people we most need.
Then there's the MIQ shambles. New Zealanders overseas wanting to come home later in the year face the all-but-impossible task of matching an MIQ space with an airline ticket.
It simply isn't credible that a privately run MIQ facility couldn't meet security standards. Such a facility could then team up with airlines so that a complete package deal could be offered.
All it needs is for the bumblers in Wellington to get out of the way and let competent people do the job.
David Morris, Hillsborough.

Korean dialogue
Professor Hoadley's (NZ Herald, July 27) opinion on Korea is not backed by independent research.
North Korea has limited resources and outdated weaponry. South Korea has a land force larger than the US, is the 10th largest military spender in the world and hosts the formidable nuclear-armed US military.
He has forgotten the utter destruction of North Korea by the US war machine with the boast of its generals that nothing would stay standing - and it did not.
Massacres were carried out by the US-installed dictator Syngman Rhee (and his successors) as they smashed and murdered the members of popular committees for land, social and political reform.
We cannot have an independent foreign policy if those who are to implement it only read MFAT briefing papers sourced from such "authorities" as Professor Hoadley. I can attest to that as a former Minister.
Labour once had a principled policy of dialogue with North Korea - not the brutal and inhumane sanctions policy demanded by the US, which harm only the people. It has conveniently shelved its former policy.
A truly independent foreign policy is disappearing as our defence policy embeds containment and, indeed, war provocation strategies against North Korea and China.
Matt Robson, Ellerslie.

Changing channel
I find the TVNZ coverage of the Olympics most odd.
The presenters say live coverage is available on Sky. Hmm. I'm guessing, people who are watching TVNZ do so as they don't have Sky. Those who have Sky, aren't watching TVNZ.
Do the presenters not understand this?
N H Arnold, Mt Roskill.

Stock standard
Is it too much to hope that we will soon reach peak "weren't our protesting farmers wonderful"?
The novelty in the latest farmer fan column (NZ Herald, July 27) by Jamie Mackay (who he?) was a good dose of condescending misogyny. The PM was referred to by her Christian name throughout and even Rachel Hunter's hair made an appearance.
The only reason I read the column was in the hope that some mention might be made of Mycoplasma bovis.
All most people know is that bizarre farming practices brought the disease here and for too long some farmers tried a neo-liberal, "leave it to us, we know best" approach.
Anybody defending that methodology now?
David Kisler, Ponsonby.

In-tractor bull
It would appear that Jamie Mackay (NZ Herald, July 27) and the farmers driving to towns with their tractor tantrum, are upset that we finally have a Government prepared to take some action about the environmental issues facing our country.
Firstly our Prime Minister is not "accidental". Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party were elected with the support of the majority of New Zealanders. A clear and decisive victory, not accidental. Something the National Party has never achieved under MMP.
Between 1990 and 2019, dairy cattle numbers increased by 82 per cent nationally from 3.4 million to 6.3 million. Canterbury dairy cattle increased tenfold (973 per cent) from 113,000 to 1.2 million. The last National Government encouraged this with financial support for more irrigation schemes to assist farmers to increase stock numbers. Little wonder the nitrogen levels and quality of the water in our rivers, streams and lakes has reached a crisis point.
Farmers have had 30 years to read the science reports and get the "vibe". Unfortunately many have moved in the wrong direction.
When we learn something new, we modify our thinking, but first we must be prepared to learn and not just throw a tantrum.
Peter Jamieson, Titirangi.

Plane clothes
Congratulations to the Air New Zealand staff who politely asked an international passenger travelling back to New Zealand from a holiday in Rarotonga to cover up. The clothing was completely inappropriate for a domestic flight, let alone an international flight.
Sadly over the years, I have noticed that Kiwi passengers have embraced the dressing casual approach and have sunk to an all-time low.
Had she worn suitable clothing, she would not have been asked to conform to the appropriate dress code. Do people really need to have this explained?
I have travelled internationally on many occasions and have to say I feel a sense of embarrassment at the sloppy attire of New Zealanders. Clothing fit only for the recycle bin. Holes in T-shirts, paint stains on shorts. One man looked as though the only thing missing from his luggage was the lawnmower.
Thankfully Air New Zealand strives to retain high standards. I am a passenger who appreciates the dress/behaviour code.
Gail FitzGerald, Penrose.

Caring arms
I recently fell on pavement in Takapuna (uneven pavers) and sustained a very nasty injury to my face including a broken nose and deep cut to the forehead.
I was so impressed at the kindness and professionalism extended to me on that afternoon. The wonderful Nash at Stallion Barbers picked me up off the footpath and called the ambulance and the kind St John's staff drove me to North Shore Hospital.
Everybody I encountered at the hospital was so kind and caring, in particular Dr Kirkpatrick who literally stitched me up. A big thank you to you all.
Julie Aldridge, Narrowneck.

Short & sweet

On energy
We could reduce reliance on imported coal, along with the environmental damage, by permitting exploration of gas within New Zealand. But then, that would take this government to back down on no further gas or oil exploration. Mike Baker, Tauranga.

It is a sad indictment that listed NZX company NZ Oil and Gas has elected to invest in an Australian gasfield while the neglected offshore Canterbury prospect is deemed "extremely gaseous". P. J. Edmondson, Tauranga.

Eco-friendly Teslas and Nissan Leafs in New Zealand are actually, in reality, coal-fired. Bruce Rogan, Mangawhai Heads.

On Aden
Calm down Gerry Brownlee. I'm sure the one ex-Islamic State lady and her two children, willl assimilate quite nicely into a team of 5 million locals. Be kind, son. Glenn Forsyth, Taupō.

On Games
The men's equivalent of the skimpy uniform women are required to wear in beach volleyball would be a pair of tight-fitting tiny Speedos and nothing else. Imagine that. Fiona McAllister, Mt Maunganui.

On police
Our top cop says no to guns. Our cops look like Boy Scouts compared to the Aussie cops. Get real, top cop, or cop out. Gary Stewart, Foxton Beach.

On Wallabies
Much as I love the sport, the decision by the Government to grant the Wallaby team an exemption from all quarantine and MIQ requirements just smacks of unfairness. Paul Beck, West Harbour.

The premium debate

DHB vaccinations

I got my first Covid jab on the weekend, quite unplanned, as I was accompanying my wife who had the appointment, as she was eligible given she volunteers with the elderly. We were both laughing at how bureaucratic it was. We were asked our name and phone numbers at least three times by the three different people you have to queue to speak to. The jab part took 30 seconds, the rest of it about 40 minutes. Ray S.

They just need to open vaccinations to people who want it now. I'm tired of reading about how much money we are spending trying to convince those that won't that they should. Being an asthmatic Māori over 50 with underlying health issues I have been denied each time I have asked if I can be vaccinated. Robert M.

It's one thing to allay fears and make the process user-friendly and as minimally intimidating as possible. That's great and I think has been reasonably well done. But at the end of the day, grow up, take some personal responsibility and get vaccinated. You can't reasonably be expected to put on a carnival with tea and cakes to "attract" people. Ali J.

How about focusing on vaccinating those people who are desperate to be vaccinated first before those who need to be convinced. And whatever happened to personal responsibility? Darren B.

As a proactive Group 4 recipient, I booked my Covid-19 vaccine this morning at the earliest available opportunity and my second jab is not until October. There is no way even half the population will be vaccinated this year. Graeme T.

I live in Taranaki and had my first shot yesterday. The vaccination centre, which is one of many in the area, that I visited is processing between 450 and 500 people per day. It was extremely well run with all team members greeting me with a smile and some kind words. I was very impressed with the efficiency of the centre and above all the team of people who were absolutely wonderful. Richard O.