Out of house and home
From my perspective, whether one owns seven residential properties - or 17 - is irrelevant. Greed is part of the human condition - and with this in mind, one acknowledges that to benefit from multiple tax-free capital gains, people take the opportunity of purchasing residential
property, while ignoring the social implications which are a consequence of such policies.
If the opportunity is there, and it is legal, the general public cannot be blamed for taking advantage. After all, they are only emulating the country's elected representatives.
Because of the terrible social cost, the onus is on our politicians to introduce measures to discourage such investment. However, with the collective snouts of so many New Zealand politicians in the trough of multiple residential housing investment, the chances of the introduction of rent control or capital gains tax is extremely remote.
This generation of young New Zealanders has been betrayed by both major parties. Sad as it is - and completely unfair - this is the reality of life in New Zealand.
Pauline Sommerville, Waiheke Island.
Clear felling
Mayor Goff's opinion piece (NZ Herald, December 6) about a targeted rate to cover commitment for a more sustainable environmental future smacks of hypocrisy when we are informed that Auckland Council has been offered the chance to purchase a piece of land with virgin bush somewhere in the St Heliers area by the owners, the Melanesian Trust, but has refused to consider purchasing that land.
The council is allowing developers to cut down every tree they wish to remove, so they can squeeze more houses on to sections, and especially out in South Auckland, we are losing all our trees and bird life.
How can they make the claim that they wish to plant more trees when they are allowing such destruction of mature vegetation?
We do need affordable housing but what is being built is not affordable.
Patricia Guptill, Wattle Downs.
Fact finding
Influencing others is one of the great pastimes of humans.
Religions have been wooing and persuading people to convert to their dogma since the first "messenger" arrived, in physical or meta physical form.
We are bombarded by advertising 24/7/365 to buy products that we don't need or we should need.
Electoral parties must influence and secure votes and will claim any outrageous promise to do so, knowing that time heals the liability of old words.
Social media, lyrics to songs, and neighbourly gossip, are also throwing in their hats to convince the public of their "truths".
If it is a "hellscape", and age of misinformation as proclaimed by a current government study, there is really only one way to separate the wheat from the chaff and that is education. Reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic.
And a new course in every curriculum called "Rabbit Hole".
Rob Buchanan, Kerikeri.
Save Aspen
In a city where expensive, designer dogs abound it is distressing to read (NZ Herald, December 7) of a family who have gone that extra mile to save on of the tens of thousands of unwanted dogs who will be killed, lose that dog because it displayed normal behaviour and injured or destroyed two small creatures in a moment of owner inattention.
If the rather ominously named branch of council, Animal Control, who are requiring that this dog be destroyed, is not advocating for animals then who is?
It is time for a review of the Dog Control Act which allows for a more compassionate overview of the lives of dogs. No dog calculates to do harm.
Taking the life of rescue dog Aspen would be a violent and pointless act of vengeance.
Judy Morley-Hall, Remuera.
Donations dilemma
Lobbying is an insidious activity with mostly money to alter public opinion ( look at America where money rules everything) Seems to become a form of fake news.
The late Robin Williams said all politicians should wear sponsors jackets confirming their spending.
It suggests if you don't have money you don't have any ideas.
Give the parties each an allocated amount to cover these things and try to level the playing field.
I MacGregor, Forrest Hill.
