National will repeal it all
We currently have legislation including Three Waters, the Māori Health Authority and co-governance being implemented by the Government in the full knowledge that the legislation will be repealed at the first opportunity by a future National/Act Government. This is a waste of public funds, and the Labour and the Greens need to be held accountable. Far better to make these fundamental reforms by cross-party consent so that the taxpayer does not have to fund the creation and then disbandment.
Bruce Snowsill, Warkworth.
Govt doing its best
Audrey Young (Weekend Herald, July 23) analysed the current Government's achievements as measured against its election manifesto on which they got elected.
Of 92 different metrics they have not achieved on only three — 22 are still "In Progress" (partly achieved/proceeding through Parliament ) and a further 11 have not been achieved "As Yet " (still to be worked on.) This is a very good pass mark for me in these extremely difficult Covid-19 times. To those who cannot wait for change at the next election, I can only advise, "be careful what you wish for".
Jim Holland, Orewa.
Ghosts of rugby past
After reading the Ian Kirkpatrick interview (NZ Herald, July 22) it made me wonder if the delegation he led into Mark Robinson's office entered by way of a rolling maul. Then I wondered if Mark gulped when he spotted Mark Shaw and Grizz Wyllie, reminding him as it did me of their era. That was not devoid of the fist biff, elbow jab, late tackle or ruck sprig. Even now, every time I see Grizz on the screen I have a nervous compulsion to rush outside and hose down my home. If any era was "rubbish" rugby, it was that era, not this one which is devoid of foul play. Our current ABs also keep "putting their bodies on the line" just as Ian, Mark and Grizz did. As for the 12-to-18-year-olds, it has always been their decision what sport they choose to play. Hopefully, the "rubbish" headline will not accelerate the "losing of players", a concern we know is to be addressed by the collaboration of New Zealand Rugby and Silver Lake. Why not red card rubbish and negativity off the field and replace them with positivity? As for Ian's concern about the driving maul, did the delegation table a solution to the NZR? It appears it did not.
Gerard Beban, Cambridge.
All Blacks need more beef
I have watched and listened with interest to all the experts opining on what is wrong with the All Blacks and so far they have missed the obvious — that they are clearly not strong enough. Compare the All Blacks' upper body shape to that of the Irish players and our next opponents, the South Africans ... Ian Foster has become obsessed with slimming down our forwards for more speed but that comes at the expense of muscle power in the close contact where the All Blacks clearly come off second best. It all started to go wrong in the quarterfinal against England at the last World Cup, where the rest of the world saw how to beat us — big forwards and the 10-man game.
After watching South Africa beat the Welsh with their massive forwards, I don't hold out any hope for the All Blacks. It will take time and a change in coach to get back on track.
Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.
Foster's failed regime
Ian Foster says he is "strong", "resilient" and "strategic". Praise of oneself is worth nothing as one cannot be objective of one's worth or accomplishments. No words or cliches will explain why a team that was regarded as the best in the world is now regarded as second rate. Why should we continue to support a regime that has failed its players and supporters?
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Reserve Bank in spotlight
A former chairman of the RBNZ has publicly criticised the current Reserve Bank, citing an abdication of their mandate to ensure price stability, opting instead to pursue job creation in conjunction with the Government to confront the fallout from Covid-19.
The ultra loose and prolonged monetary conditions which prevailed were the source of much of our current inflation and not global events as claimed, the outcome predictable, prior warnings ignored.
The response to the challenge, control profligate government expenditure, of course initiate higher interest rates and painful as it seems limit wage increases which would perpetuate an endless inflationary spiral. This is the case if Labour's contentious Fair Pay Agreement is enacted.
PJ Edmondson, Tauranga.
Keep it in the family
Reading a recent article about the potential pitfalls of using "the bank of Mum and Dad" got me thinking about why so many seem so reluctant to embrace intergenerational and wider family collaboration. For most of history, for most cultures this is the way things have worked — taking up the family trade, working the family farm. The concept is still embedded in the cultures of the Indian and Chinese migrants in New Zealand, as it also is in the Māori concept of whānau. Has the idea that the ultimate model of success is being a so-called "self-made man"taken such a hold that we'd rather see the next generation enslaved to decades of debt, slaving away for long hours in stressful jobs just to be able to say they made it on their own rather than collaborate with our own families? The main beneficiaries of this are the money lenders and the corporate mills, to which so many lives become the grist to prove this ridiculously unnecessary point. Why?
John Christiansen, Mt Albert.
Short & sweet
On Greens
Sadly for the aspirations of the Green Party, there appears to be a strong element in their ranks that would rather protest than progress. Richard Alspach, Dargaville.
On Tamaki
Is Brian Tamaki the new messiah? God help us. Graham Fleetwood, Botany Downs.
Tamaki is a menace to New Zealand society. His lawbreaking and anarchy preaching must be dealt with firmly by police and the courts. Hans Braun, Takapuna.
On crime
Hit a cop, go to jail — no ifs, buts, or maybes. Ian Doube, Rotorua.
Got given our free masks to wear ... but are they giving out a free knife and bulletproof vest if we visit Auckland? Glenn Forsyth, Taupō.
On weather
There is nothing wrong with bad weather. Rain has filled Auckland's dams to near overflowing. What's the problem with that? John Ford, Napier.
On Labour
While it wasn't one of the 75 achievements in 20 months of this Labour Government (Weekend Herald, July 23) congratulations are due to Megan Woods for resolving the plasterboard shortages caused by Fletcher's inability to plan. If you want something done, get a Labour Government. Mark Nixon, Remuera.
The Premium Debate
Pitfalls of the bank of Mum and Dad
The Government must ensure houses are affordable vis-à-vis the average income. If that amounts to changing laws, plugging loopholes, ensuring a level playing field for first-home buyers and investors alike, so be it. John B.
If people work hard and earn well in a legal manner, well done to them. Don't sneer or find fault. It's jealousy. Mark C.
Not everyone aspires to own a home. Owning a home is not the only path to wealth creation. Ralph H.
Many Germans rent because they trust their retirement savings are secure. German public companies have a moral responsibility to look after shareholders' equity. NZ needs a secure investment environment so tenants can opt to rent and invest elsewhere. Colin H.
In NZ, housing is not a public good but for profit and, just like electricity being changed from a public good to a profit-making utility, when housing is for profit the tenants will always lose. Kathryn M.
The article seems to restrict wealth to those with urban properties. There is huge intergenerational wealth also in land, not just that used in primary production. Should this wealth in the form of land be subject to inheritance tax as it passes between generations? Paddy G.
