The Lion King stage production, scheduled to be performed in Auckland in June, has been granted border exemptions. Photo / Supplied
Both the Wiggles and the Lion King productions have been granted border exemptions to come to perform in New Zealand while applications for essential workers are declined.
How does Immigration NZ make these arbitrary decisions which are resulting in fruit not being picked, boat building businesses unable to
do refits, and countless other businesses in need of essential workers being declined?
Despite horticulture wanting workers from the Pacific Islands, where there is no Covid, while also offering accommodation facilities where the workers are in their own bubble their applications are constantly rejected; even yachting crews, where they could quarantine onboard.
Is there a penchant for creative pursuits above all others, given film crews are also given priority?
Seemingly faceless bureaucrats are making arbitrary decisions that make doing business in trying circumstances even more difficult while giving non-essential, nice-to-have, overseas productions carte blanche to come and perform.
Deborah Roberts, Remuera.
I have just done my two weeks' managed isolation in downtown Auckland, all was very well run and the staff, troops very nice
I was astounded not to be asked to pay on departure from the hotel, having been already amazed not to be asked to pay before our departure from the UK
This is surely a farcical situation where people are being provided with accommodation and allowed to leave without paying
Alastair Caldwell, Devonport.
We need a shakeup in our grocery scene. The duopoly here has become complacent. They are happy with their market shares, and improving their profits year-on-year, all thanks to us, the pathetic little customer.
Last week I walked past four items as they seemed expensive and thought the other supermarket in town will be cheaper. They were not. The exact items there were all dearer, so I went back to the first supermarket, surrendered, and bought them.
The items were Kalo yoghurt ($6.15/$7), Hubbards muesli ($6.39/$7.30), Marmite ($6.39/$7.29), and Sensodyne toothpaste ($9.69/$10.99). Not one on special among them. It is clear how our two grocery giants have become smug. It is like real estate; sell as high as they can, or as low as they must.
This country may be a desired place to live but it is a little goldmine for owners and shareholders. The sooner we get grocery competition, the better. For the past 15 years, our duopoly has not had any pressure whatsoever.
Jazmin Pudney. Pyes Pa.
The price of rolled oats has increased dramatically from as little as 17 cents/100g but commonly 22 cents/100g, to 33 cents/100g today at Pak'n Save. This is a staple part of breakfast food. The price of tomatoes is $1.99 not the 9 cents promulgated recently. Cheese had typically been $7.99-$8.99 but now is commonly $10.99. Petrol prices have risen sharply too. It seems that water electricity and council rates are due to rise and rental costs are soaring.
We are assured that inflation is unlikely to be a problem but interest rates will remain low for the foreseeable future. This dries up the income of those not working. I guess reducing our breakfast, slicing the cheese thinner, having shorter showers and using shanks pony is a given. What little we have left in the bank we should spend, before it is lent to a housing investor.
Steve Russell, Hillcrest.
A man accused of a 2019 axe murder has been instead found guilty of manslaughter ( NZ Herald, March 16). Another dreadful example that our justice system is absolutely so wrong.
It is too tough on juries to have only two choices, either murder or manslaughter, as I found out when I headed the jury on my only jury service. We too had to choose manslaughter, which was terribly hard on the victim's family.
We need three degrees of murder as in the US so we can decide on murder to the first degree, murder to the second degree, murder to the third degree or manslaughter.
We must change our justice system to stop many people getting away with murder. We urgently need the choice. This is why I was really pleased I was told I would not be called to jury service again.
Murray Hunter, Titirangi.
A few years ago, on a bus to Wellington, I sat beside a young Japanese student who was at university in New Zealand studying English Literature. As we chatted away, improving his English no doubt, I asked what his vocational ambitions were.
Imagine my surprise when he said his aim was to seek work in automotive engineering with one of the large Japanese manufacturers. "Shouldn't you be studying maths or engineering?"
He replied that in his country the quality of education is respected higher than the content and that having a meaningful degree proved an ability to learn, thus opening the door for the employer to educate in their company values.
I wonder whether this is part of what's missing in our education system. Learning should not be totally focused on future employment, but rather on a rounded appreciation of a much bigger world. It seems that wisdom comes from broad-based life experience over time and that education plays only a small part in its formation. Perhaps we drop Latin at our peril. Proverbs 12:12, "Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding".
John Williams, Ngongotahā .
What's all this tripe about "council-owned land"? The "council" owns nothing. It manages on our behalf.
Don't forget "we" - you and I, the residents of Auckland's Super City - paid through the nose for everything the council manages.
We even paid for all the green spaces with their wide variety of carbon-absorbing trees (trees that our council delights in chopping down).
Something that also seems to have been forgotten is these trees also create oxygen, giving life to every living creature on this planet.
It is so ironic that this council has given itself the superiority of calling itself eco-friendly,
I wonder if it even knows the meaning of the words.
Bob Jessopp, Massey.
Thank goodness the Auckland council is not in charge of tree planting nationwide. It appears to have been overtaken by an insane desire to destroy mature, healthy non-native trees that were planted in good faith for the benefit of all. Natives, where suitable, should be planted where new or replacement trees are required, but the destruction of mature non-native trees purely to fulfil a naive ideological dictum is insanity in this overheating world.
Maybe we should apply the same logic to all of New Zealand and evacuate the country to its non-human state so only the native fauna are left?
James Archibald, Birkenhead.
Surely there must be some legal loophole to stop the deportation of non-Australian citizens, alleged to be New Zealand citizens, back to New Zealand.
The requisites for entry to New Zealand are either by valid passport or visa, not those with criminal convictions in another country. No doubt many of the deportees would not have the legal right or documentation to enter this country.
Australia must take major responsibility for any criminal activities perpetrated by these people as many have been residing there for years and they must have had a clean record before entering Australia. Frankly, it's a matter of clean up your own mess instead of expecting others to do it for you.
The underarm incident has shown us that Australians in some quarters can be morally bankrupt when faced with difficult situations.
Considering the plight of their ancestors one would have to say how convenient it is to forget.
Reg Dempster, Albany.
After a decade or more of substantial deterioration, Auckland Council/Transport resurfaced Selbourne St.
But, instead of the hoped-for - indeed longed for - quiet and smooth seal, like other streets in our locale, we got chip. One could say, loose chip because it just hasn't stuck in the tar. Instead it sticks on our shoes; on our car tyres; on children's bare feet with added tar; it's walked into the house and scratches the floor; it piles up in the car mats; and it's washed down the stormwater drain.
It's a right cock-up but at least I now know the origin of the saying "cheap as chip".
C Johnstone, Grey Lynn.
On discourse
Why must we now have a "conversation" about everything? Can't we just discuss it or talk about it like we used to? John Riley, Ōrewa.
On exemptions
It seems there are two critical entry criteria to avoid the common issues most face. Either own a superyacht or stage a show. No problems then at all. Paul Beck, West Harbour.
Trying to get family back together after months apart? Tough. Sorry, no room in MIQ. Actor or lighting engineer for Lion King? No problem. Every day shows a disgusting definition of kindness. Tony Marks, Omaha Beach.
On Cup
What a ripper of a front page headline (NZ Herald, March 15), "Luna Eclipsed", to describe Team NZ's incredible comeback in Race 8. Very clever. Barbara Graham, Tokoroa.
While not a fan of awards such as the Oscars, Bafta's and Grammys, if anyone really does deserve one, it must be the commentator who can make a race between two yachts sound as exciting as an All Blacks test. Bill Gibson, Kawerau.
On royals
After hearing the Harry and Meghan story, if anyone didn't appreciate what entitlement was, they will now. The pair even considered settling in New Zealand, we dodged a bullet there. Dave Miller, Matua.
On Labour
With the latest drop in the polls, it must be becoming evident to even the staunchest Labour supporter that "Labour is actually too scared to be Labour". Graeme Samson, Whāngārei.
'He has disregarded our voice and continued with this divisive kaupapa.'