Will removing GST from fruit and vegetables ease the pressure on our purses? Photo / Gilaxia, Getty Images, File
Having no GST on fresh fruit and vegetables is great, like Australia, but this is not our problem-solver for expensive food here. The lack of competition is, because there is a lack of outlets for suppliers. This has been well-documented.
We have Costco starting next July at Westgate; however, we would need another four or five of these dotted around the country to make a difference for consumers and suppliers.
The draft report mentions two Countdowns within 300m of each other in Johnsonville, but there is a Warehouse in between. Inviting Aldi here to use part of the Warehouse's floor for produce, butchery and dairy for example will bring us back to three competitors in an instant. On top of this, our Government needs to buy into the Warehouse and be the major shareholder.
There are over 500 Aldi stores in Australia (a 12 per cent share of Australia's $110 billion food and grocery sector), but no two chains there have as much market share as the two chains here in New Zealand have. Little wonder our grocery bills are too expensive.
Jazmin Pudney, Tauranga.
Recovering costs
Both companies are guilty of "overtrading" in there are far too many large stores in close proximity not only to each other but also to the opposition. Each suburb seems to have representation by both stores.
Added to this is the overlong opening hours, many open from 7am until 10pm; just how many shoppers actually do their shopping at these late hours?
While the combination of these two factors is not, per se, the reason for the high prices they certainly contribute to their costs that need to be recovered.
My experience, albeit many years ago, was the daily cash inflow invested on 30-day call contributed a great deal to the profit line. Clearly far more applicable at higher interest rates than available today.
Of course, management screw the suppliers who want to display at the end of the aisle. It has always been difficult for small suppliers to obtain shelf space, and if a slow-seller it is then replaced by one with a higher sales rate: a basic law of commerce.
Avi Modlin, Ōrewa.
Phrases be
Your newspaper (NZ Herald, July 30) gave full coverage including an editorial, to the Commerce Commission's findings covering the behaviour of our supermarket duopoly.
The language used to unfold this drama is careful and expressive throughout, with such delights as "excessively profitable", "exercising market power" and "squeezing and bullying".
But really, isn't all this just plain old simple greed?
Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.
Open conversation
The seven University of Auckland professors who authored a recent letter to the New
Zealand Listener about the differences between the universality of science and mātauranga Māori deserve to be congratulated.
In writing their letter they have performed the fundamental role expected of a university, to question assumptions and stimulate thinking on issues that are relevant to society. The professors have raised an issue that is important to all New Zealanders, but I suspect only poorly understood: what is mātauranga Māori?
The response to their letter from institutions and commentators so far has been disappointing.
The University of Auckland says "it's not us", the Royal Society says "not us either", several
commentators have sought to denigrate the professors ("confused professors" says one). None of the reaction so far helps to further the fundamental and important discussion that New Zealand society deserves. What is mātauranga Māori? How does it contribute to the sum of human knowledge? How should it be taught in schools?
It would be really good to hear positive acknowledgement of the important contribution the professors have made in raising an issue that I think has probably passed most of us by. Let the discussion continue.
Ian Smith, Westmere.
Poverty line
To clarify John Denton's (NZ Herald, July 30) confusion regarding the use of the 50 per cent median line for measuring income poverty. The median is the middle point in income distribution, and the poverty line is 50 per cent of that middle point.
To use an example – 50 per cent of a $500 median income would be $250. Increasing the income of those below that figure so that they all had an income of $300 would take them to 60 per cent but would not change the $500 median point.
Yes, increasing the median would shift the poverty line, and so it should, because poverty is about having enough income to have a life and enjoy opportunities that society considers to be acceptable in the 2020s.
This is a problem that is fixable (very fixable) through incomes and welfare policies. That is why so many of us keep insisting that Government needs to continue to implement policies that work to reduce poverty and lift incomes above 50 per cent of the median. The Government has made important changes, but much more needs to be done.
Associate Professor Mike O'Brien, School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work, University of Auckland.
Top cops
Regarding Gary Stewart's comments on our unarmed police (NZ Herald, July 30) looking like Boy Scouts compared to the Aussie police: Why do our police need to look like Aussie police?
Our unarmed police punch well above their weight compared with armed Aussie police. Don't arm our police please, but let them have easy access to arms if required.
How many times have armed police had their own guns turned on them, fatally?
Julie Pearce, Matamata.
Elderly overlooked
I attended a pre-booked vaccine appointment in Birkenhead. I was informed it was for all those in group 3, i.e. over 65 and at risk.
However, I was the only person there in that age group. Everyone else was under 50 and there were over 200 people during my visit.
So, with the Government's "commitment " to vaccinating the elderly, I get the honest impression that, again, we have been lied to.
Only 10 per cent of those over 65 have been vaccinated and yet they already have been forgotten.
Anthony Browne, Birkdale.
Pulling rank
Troops at Covid-19 quarantine facilities told military reviewers (NZ Herald, July 30) it was unfair commanders at HQ got better pandemic allowances than those working on the frontlines.
As a taxpayer, I'd be asking why in the 21st century anyone is being paid an allowance when Defence Force staff are already paid well above other public servants and certainly well above all the private workers in MIQ facilities doing much the same work.
Bernard Jennings, Wellington.
Verification checks
Ray S (NZ Herald, July 30) has obviously never donated blood. In getting his vaccination he was asked three times by three different people for his name and number.
As a donor, that would be a regular thing (the receptionist, the interview nurse, and the phlebotomist all ask for your details).
Instead, he found it bureaucratically funny, unaware that what they were doing was confirming that they were talking to the person they thought they were talking to.
Morgan L. Owens, Manurewa.
Food for frought
A recent article (NZ Herald, July 30) names New Zealand a country most likely to survive a global catastrophe because of our ability to feed ourselves.
I am unaware of another country's Government so opposed to food security as New Zealand.
The plans in place seem to penalise farmers for protecting new and old carbon sinks. The actual mechanics of carbon and methane cost and pricing are the big bugbears facing farmers.
When farmers are compensated for their carbon sinks we will be getting somewhere.
Rob McCartie, Parnell.
Foiled again
Rich-lister Mark Dunphy has resumed the dialogue (NZ Herald, July 30) over keeping the America's Cup here. I rightly predicted it was not all over for clever master negotiator Grant Dalton. He knows contacts in "high places" and would be able to negotiate North Korea out of their nukes. Or the Deputy PM out of his grandmother's savings.
Dunphy has, maybe, spoken to Dalton and mentions "perhaps a mix of government and private money" may resolve things.
He is right when he says "there is money there".
But not for the underprivileged. Or the nurses. Or the cleaners.
Not again.
Hing Yu, Pakuranga.
On vaccine
Next year the PM will be telling us that not only was lockdown "hard and early" but the vaccination programme was "fast and slick". Stewart Hawkins, St Heliers.
On debate
I have just read Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Mike Hosking's opinion pieces (NZ Herald, July 29). While I struggle to agree with elements of both, having contrasting viewpoints alongside each other is important. Education is the key to understanding and change so this helps everyone. Steve Dransfield, Karori.
On science
University of Auckland professor Douglas Elliffe expressed his opinion on Māori knowledge and has been ridiculed and bullied over it. L H Cleverly, Mt Roskill.
On rail
I see the Government is running an advertising campaign promoting light rail for our city. Does it realise that the shortest route from the end of Dominion Rd to the airport is through Ihumātao? Bryan Airey, Waiake.
On family
Alan Walker (NZ Herald, July 28) wonders whether the word "family" will become obsolete. However, a word that has spanned millennia, crossed oceans and has more than a billion followers will, I think, prove irrepressible. R. Rimmer, Tauranga.
On Olympics
Who will win the gold medal for the most dramatic finishing celebration? The celebrations are getting more and more dramatic. Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.
Just when you think this Government couldn't get any worse. Darren B.
Following overseas reporting, and in the name of clarity, we would like to know whether the 1.5 million-dose delivery announced for August will arrive in 250,000 vials (six doses per vial) or 300,000 vials (five doses per vial). The same question could be put to the Ministry of Health for the July and even prior deliveries. If the delivery is for 250,000 vials, then using non low dead space syringes will reduce the number of jabs of the August delivery to just 1,250,000 doses. This topic has been reported months ago overseas (i.e. Pfizer deliveries in Sweden) and should come as no surprise to the ministry. Carl R.
I smell a lack of transparency here...seems there's a cover-up regarding the story around "we discovered can get more from every vial"...more likely "oops we forgot to order the syringes". I would like to understand how we can go from five doses in a vial to six and now seven and how the syringe can influence that? Why is this not standard operating procedure from Pfizer, rather than stumbling on this ourselves? We are so far behind the rollout here in NZ that surely the procedures for vaccine administration should be 100 per cent globally by now? Rachel H
More spin and total incompetence, letting the team of 5 million down at every opportunity. When is someone going to hold this inept Government to account? Or has the Opposition fallen to the lowest common denominator? I guess we deserve what we get since they were voted in by the electors. Bernard M
What nonsense. The Government has done extremely well. Many of these situations are not predictable and only come to light with the operational experience. You can put a negative spin on anything if you are predisposed to do so. Howard S.
Hundreds farewell Kathleen Wharton; NRLW star remembered for her community impact.