The aftermath of the damage to Waikeria Prison, after the six-day riot and standoff at the prison. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Even prison inmates have rights
The concept of justice is about putting right what was wrong. I wonder where the concept of justice is for those who protested about their conditions in Waikeria Prison.
I am a former Waikato police dog handler, and as such I attended a number of incidents at the prison and one of my neighbours was a prison officer. I heard the views of family members about the conditions the inmates at Waikeria are living under, and it appalled me.
I would never make any animal live under those conditions, at the very least the animal rights groups would be very vocal, and yet here we have prisoners (who have minimal avenues for complaining) resorting to these drastic measures.
Where are the human rights? Where is decency or kindness? How are we putting things right? Basic questions about some human decency, and society wonders about how we have developed such hardened criminals in our society.
Two years ago, I had the privilege in visiting Springhill Prison in north Waikato (or South Auckland depending on your perspective). It is a giant step in the right direction compared to Waikeria. I spoke with one of the senior people at the prison and asked what percentage should be in here: "In reality less than 10 per cent", was the response. I had written my own guess down before asking the question. We both had the same answer. Yet Waikeria is one of our oldest prisons.
I visited the "isolation" cells as a dog handler and they were bad enough to create nightmares. They did nothing to make me believe we were fixing any problems, quite the opposite.
Our Government was elected partly on the promise of a kinder society, hence I supported them.
Where is kindness in this situation?
Bruce Howat, Waiuku
No comment
So, our Minister of Corrections didn't want to make any public comment until the crisis at Waikeria Prison had been resolved by the experts.
Wouldn't that be like a Minister of Health not wanting to appear publicly until the crisis (Covid) was over? Oh, wait — where was David Clark? Bad example.
New Zealand has a housing crisis, potential education crisis — but we do hear comment from Megan Woods and Chris Hipkins. Even young children know bad excuses don't wash with grown-ups.
Vickie Holland, Kawerau
Catastrophe averted
Well done to the Corrections staff, police, emergency staff and others involved in getting a peaceful end to the prison riot.
What could have been a much bigger catastrophe, with lives lost, was averted.
The restraint shown by all those on the ground was a lesson to us all.
The prisoners on the other hand by their actions showed the level of violence and destruction they are prepared to use against the rest of society.
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth
Dirty beaches
Just great! Now nearly all of Auckland's popular beaches are unswimmable because of pollution.
Litter all around Auckland has been growing visibly over the past two decades since the council stopped the "best presented street awards" pre-2000 when Aucklanders were given an incentive to take pride in their streets.
Mid Covid-19, Auckland's culverts were littered with masks, tissues and rubber gloves, the banning of plastic bags soon had doggy poo cropping up along beach reserves and even worse on beaches themselves.
The solution was always blatantly obvious: hit litter bugs with hefty fines and signage on beaches telling them so with an added incentive for locals wanting pride in their home territory to dob offenders in.
It is not uncommon in beachy suburbs in America for fines of $1000 to be posted with excellent outcomes. Otherwise in the coming council elections voters in Auckland should send a clear message to the Mayor of Auckland: You're fired.
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay
Helicopter payments
It seems that many employers given a "leg-up" to pay wages and keep them viable through the Covid crisis have made big profits over and above the employment subsidies, yet are refusing to repay the excess back to the government.
Some have apparently even been claiming the subsidies for persons whose employment was terminated or reduced. Apparently political correctness will mean that no steps will be taken against those employers who refuse to return the unneeded subsidies or those who committed fraud in their accounting for the monies advanced.
Government needs now to reconsider the previously rejected "helicopter payments" to beneficiaries and low wage earners, which would even at this stage stimulate our internal economy at least. Most other Western countries have already done that, and Jacinda Ardern's Government does not have Winston Peters' capriciousness to hide behind.
Dennis Pennefather, Te Awamutu
Cafe culture
The standard of service in New Zealand cafes and restaurants often falls well short of what overseas visitors expect. And I believe standards have become even worse during their absence since border restrictions were imposed early last year.
American visitors, especially, have always been quick to complain when they feel our standards fail to match what they are accustomed to back home. Our cafe and restaurant staff must become more attentive to their guests.
Too many appear disinterested and unwelcoming, wandering about aimlessly or chatting idly with other staff. They are often seen fiddling with their cellphones, ignoring opportunities to refill glasses, failing to ensure that required cutlery is provided and that meals and drinks are delivered to the customer's satisfaction without undue delay.
Compare this to overseas, particularly in Europe, where a head waiter is constantly scanning tables and deploying wait staff to attend to customers' needs. If we can't meet these standards we should allow customers to come to the bar to request what they need.
Too many of our expensive restaurants require the diner to stand awkwardly at the checkout to pay the bill, instead of providing the bill at the table for discreet checking and payment.
Before overseas tourists start returning, we must raise our standards again to avoid disappointing them and harming our reputation as a desirable destination.
Barry Nesdale, Tauranga
Sparking anger
Sports writer Dylan Cleaver (January 4) describes the Black Caps' second test against Pakistan in Christchurch as "compelling and riveting". I would love to have seen this game but sadly like many of your correspondents, our TV summer cricket viewing has been ruined by Spark Sport's greed.
However, it is not just the cricket that Spark is denying people. For a couple of years now Spark has been trying to wrest my copper landline phone from me. When I resisted they immediately increased their charges.
For many older people who live alone, the security of a landline phone and being able to watch the cricket in summer on TV greatly enhances their quality of life — or it used to. It is sad that Spark does not share this view.
Barbara Graham, Tokoroa
Just not cricket
I've loved cricket for 60 years. I love the shortened versions and I can sit and watch a five-dayer, and have been mocked for doing so.
I've watched when the Black Caps have struggled and when they've been champions. New Zealand Cricket must realise that being contracted to Spark Sport for six years is false economy and they would do very well to make sure that this move to put money before fans and the spirit of the game does not come back to bite them in the future.
They will be losing fans on a daily basis. I am one they've lost.
Janet Boyle, Ōrewa
Caught short
I have to agree with Carol Oram (January 4) about the loss of cricket on our TV screens. Spark have completely ruined thousands of people's summer viewing with their exhorbitant prices. Our cricket team is playing the best that it has played in a long time and we are being deprived of the pleasure of watching it. Six years will kill off NZ's interest in the game, and NZ Cricket will be the poorer for it.
Trish Heikoop, Pakuranga
Short & sweet
On cricket
How fortunate we are to watch our summer of cricket in person or through the brilliant coverage of Spark Sport. Well done, NZ Cricket.
Martin Bridge, St Johns.
On prison riot
Critics of the handling of the riot overlook the fact that the rioters were members of the Mongols and Comanchero gangs who had committed crimes. They don't deserve 5-star treatment.
David Bennett, New Plymouth.
A new prison should be built to replace Waikeria. Campbell Island would be ideal.
CC McDowall, Rotorua.
Looking at the handling of this fiasco it is obvious we are due for another three years of hand-wringing do-nothing government. Perhaps we need an inquiry into this behaviour?
Pim Venecourt, Pāpāmoa.
On other riots
Patrick Baker is right that the type of policing seen in Whangamatā is not what we want routinely to see (January 4). But that will depend on the public. If the public behave badly, then I am more than happy to see the police get tough on them.
R Harvey, Kohimarama.
Is there any correlation between youths out of control on a roof at Whangamatā and prison inmates going a step further on a roof in Waikeria Prison?
Reg Dempster, Albany.
The internet entrepreneur shared news of his health setback to social media.