What is the right size family for the household income? Photo / 123rf, File
My grandfather had 13 children in the early 1900s. This because he had been through a British-based education, and he felt that was how many children he could afford to raise.
My father, born in 1914, was one of those children. My father had been educated
through schooling in a similar system. Times had changed as well as the cost of living and the cost of raising children. He decided that he would only have five children because this was an affordable number to raise.
I was one of those five children. Once again I was educated at a similar school, based on the very same British system, very similar to New Zealand's schooling system in the 60s and 70s. I decided that three children was affordable. Education is the key word here.
To fix poverty we need to educate people who still think they can afford to bring up all those children they insist on having.
Ian Cunningham, Bayswater.
Mentoring finances
Your correspondent David Morris bemoans the demise of the "aunties" and other financial helpers. However, not all is lost.
In Warkworth/Wellsford - as in many other areas - we have a budgeting service that can be accessed free of charge. Its financial mentors are volunteers, which have undergone a rather vigorous government-funded training.
While these volunteers cannot work miracles, they do their level best to help. I know this because I am one of them.
K. H. Peter Kammler, Warkworth.
Fungal tragedy
Reading about the outbreak of mucormycosis infections in India (NZ Herald, May 24) as doctors fight Covid-19, reminds me of my son Wayne's experience with the deadly fungus, right here in Auckland.
Within days of being immuno-suppressed with chemotherapy to fight leukaemia, spores of the fungus began growing from his sinus at an alarming rate, up behind his eye and forming a growing tumour in the frontal lobe of his brain. Despite invasive surgery, infusions of ambisome and amphotericin, three weeks after the initial diagnosis, we were told to expect the worst.
Our private research suggested hyperbaric oxygen treatment may help to fight the fungus. After just a few sessions we noticed a marked improvement in Wayne's demeanour, and over time, MRIs showed the tumour shrinking, then disappearing altogether. Unfortunately, because of the infection, chemotherapy was withheld and the leukaemia had its say 18 months later.
Throughout Wayne's illness, his school, Westlake Boys High, provided amazing support, finally honouring him with a plaque at the front entrance to the school.
Bruce Reynolds, Chatswood.
Seasonal benefits
The Government proposes to restrict numbers of seasonal workers from the Pacific islands as a lever to force horticultural industries down a more "high-tech" road. That might work, but I remain sceptical - just as likely is those operations will down-scale and end up contributing less to the national economy.
What seems to have been overlooked is the role the seasonal work scheme has in supporting development and community wellbeing where these workers come from. Those relying on tourism have taken a huge hit. Many were employed in the cruise ship industry. Not now.
Instead of doling out grants to assist with projects in Pacific countries, the workers themselves get to earn proper money, and they (and their families) get to decide their priorities for spending it. In other words, the people decide where the need is greatest without intervening layers of bureaucracy. What better way to support our less well-off neighbours? Our economy wins, their economy wins, and local communities are more in control of their own destiny,
By the way, I support the increase in benefits as all of that extra will get spent in our economy.
Mark Vincent, Paparoa.
Voting maturity
With the suggestion that the voting age be lowered to 16, it should be remembered that the teenaged brain is still developing.
Based on the stage of their brain development, adolescents are more likely to: act on impulse; misread or misinterpret social cues and emotions; get into accidents of all kinds; get involved in fights; engage in dangerous or risky behaviour.
Adolescents are less likely to think before they act or pause to consider the consequences of their actions.
Should we, in fact be raising the voting age until this development is complete?
Gary Arnold, Paremoremo.
Playing the man
I know that beneficiary-bashing is a customary - indeed, hereditary - sport amongst many New Zealanders; it may even be a congenital disease, like royalty or fox hunting, and one must not interfere in matters of hereditary custom, but come on.
With the emphasis solely on the beneficiary, I suspect we may be treating only the symptoms.
Has anyone taken a good long hard look at the reasons people might want to flag employment? Such as employers' attitude problems? An inability to define their jobs? Job ads that read like roleplayer game heroes?
A grotesquely offensive attitude to the poor on welfare on one hand coupled with relentless demands for taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies together with a disinclination to pay any rates or taxes themselves?
An inability to recognise any initiative except on the sports field?
Do people worried about serious medical issues ask for only the comforting lies? Not in my experience. So why do we tolerate it in other matters?
Wesley Parish, Tauranga.
Charitable start
Andrew Barnes's suggestion of migrants' cash donation to a government-sponsored charitable trust (NZ Herald, May 24) is excellent and practical. It deserves our full applause and support.
The intended migrant who wishes to start a new life in New Zealand should also share the past costs for building up the present beautiful communities.
Andrew Yap, Stonefield.
GG choice
I am very appreciative of this fine lady of character, Dame Cindy Kiro, and particularly on account of the office she will hold as incoming Governor General.
I agree with the comment made by David Seymour, in light of the "extraordinary results" unfolding in Samoa, showing how critical it is to have a "constitutional backstop when ordinary politics fail".
Our own "constitutional monarchy democracy" provides for someone to be "outside of the game", so to speak - someone of character as a "touchstone" for all. Dame Cindy will do this I am sure.
Geoff Tisch, Birkenhead.
'Economically insane'
Bryan Leyland writes (NZ Herald, May 20) it is high time we started a debate on nuclear power.
In the UK, new nuclear installations provide the most expensive electricity of all, with serious cost overruns and no provision for decommissioning or storing the nuclear waste. That be just the facts, never mind Kiwis' paranoia.
The true renewables, wind and solar, provide the cheapest new installations and electricity.
Liberium Capital described the agreed price for the nuclear electricity from the still-unfinished Hinkley Point C as "economically insane".
"Nuclear" is just a stumbling block on our path to zero carbon - a fine example of method in madness.
Dennis N Horne, Howick
Nuclear radiation
Valmai Shearer (NZ Herald, May 25) will be pleased to learn that, according to the United Nation's Committee on the Effects of Nuclear Radiation: "No one has, or will, die of radiation from Fukushima".
Sadly, about 2000 people did die as a result of panic-driven evacuations from areas with safe levels of radiation and because the irrational closedown of other unaffected nuclear stations caused power shortages in Tokyo. Many people also died of heat exhaustion as a result of the loss of air-conditioning.
For comparison, it is estimated that 15,000 people died from the earthquake itself and 125,000 people died when the Banqiao dam in China failed in the 1970s.
Bryan Leyland, Pt Chevalier.
On poverty
David Morris' letter (NZ Herald, May 25) deserves support and consideration from those in power. I lived in Switzerland for many years where retired successful people mentor those needing assistance. Graeme McGowan, Thames.
A 43 per cent rate rise causing rents to rise and a 111 per cent rise in water rates over 10 years will quickly swallow up the extra $55 a week pay rise given to Auckland beneficiaries. How a $32 to $55 a week rise will pull 30,000 children out of poverty beggars belief. Neil Hatfull, Warkworth.
On Warriors
When the Breakers and Phoenix can return to New Zealand and play in an Australasian competition, so can the Warriors. I will support the local Fox Memorial Premiership. Graeme Parfitt, Murrays Bay.
On Samoa
Alexander Lukashenko, Donald Trump, and now Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. The reins of power are hypnotic for some. Warwick Maxwell, St Heliers.
On cold
I spent many nights sleeping with a woollen beanie on and under woollen blankets. Maybe we should educate people how to use their house in a healthy way rather than blaming the house. Randel Case, Buckland Beach.
On vaccine
The vaccine roll-out is looking like another KiwiBuild. Richard Buisson, Browns Bay.
On Antarctica
When we have spent $300 million and completed the new Scott Base. How many homeless New Zealanders will it accommodate? Gerald Payman, Mt Albert.
A man known to the victim has been charged with assault.