Autonomous electric vehicles which will be used around the main facilities of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village. Photo / Eugene Hoshiko, AP
I can agree with Bryan Leyland (NZ Herald, June 2) that replacing fossil fuel cars with electric ones is hugely problematic and will contribute little to lessening our greenhouse gas emissions from transport. He is right about the many problems of battery production, pricing and the geo-politics tied up in resourcing large scale usage of battery technologies for transport.
He, however, fails to mention some portion of an electric car fleet would be charged by individual householders using solar sources to generate solar-voltaic current for some levels of charging. It's also wrong to suggest nuclear power is part of a solution. The nuclear fuel cycle, from uranium mining to disposal of nuclear waste, generates huge amounts of carbon dioxide, because of the various stages of the cycle being fossil fuel dependent. Apart from this are the problems on display at Fukushima in Japan.
The problem making the private car environmentally benign is largely solved by getting rid of most and replacing them with effective and properly patronised public transit systems. These would run, as Auckland's trains already do, on direct wire to motor electrical systems. Complement this with all the usual - more walking, more bikes and responsive public taxi systems.
Denys Trussell, Newton.
Forest flaw
I have always thought that the change in forestry by leaving the wood waste on the forest floor was dreadful and wasteful.
How much damage in the recent floods is because the scrap from the stripping of branches from logs before transportation has moved to lower farmland and riverbanks? Quite substantial, I would think.
And as our world is warming what contribution does the waste wood contribute to floods and forest fires?
It's time for forestry to reassess the wasteful practice. And be tidy Kiwis.
Lynne Lagan, Hauraki.
Lonely cyclist
I saw a cyclist the other day - head down, no helmet, no protective clothing - in the Green Lane traffic. The only one I've seen for ages. Catherine Curlett, Remuera.
Called to account
Your correspondent Duncan Simpson (NZ Herald, June 23) is only partially correct, banks have not been providing "banking services" for some time. Just try to contact your manager. S P McMonagle, Greenhithe.
Review after review
If the Government had developed policies and plans for the $1.9 billion allocated to mental health then there is no need for a review. Instead, the minister should be kicking bums and demanding action.
If there were no policies and plans developed then how did the Government arrive at the 1.9 billion number?
Bruce A Manson, Ōrewa.
EV breezy
Eighty per cent of EV charging occurs at home at night. In New Zealand, coal or gas burning for electricity generation usually occurs in the middle of the day. This means that in New Zealand, EVs now run almost entirely on renewable energy.
When the smelter finally closes and Manapouri hydro is fully connected to the grid, all EV charging will be from renewables.
Every gallon of petrol or diesel burned in a car, produces 20 pounds of CO2 greenhouse gas.
EVs produce zero CO2 when run on renewable electricity.
John Caldwell, Howick.
Spent energy
What Robert MacCullough (NZ Herald, June 23) fails to mention is that the Clutha dam was in fact funded by government and built by the Ministry of Works.
Now we have handed over electricity assets to private enterprise, it is disingenuous to blame government for the failure to keep up with renewable energy needs. Blame tight-fisted investors.
Neil Anderson, Algies Bay.
Generating debate
We are running so low on water, power is becoming scarce and more expensive. So why are we being encouraged to buy electric cars? V. Hall, Whangaparāoa.
Gulf links
Rod Emmerson's cartoon (NZ Herald, June 23) was absolutely brilliant. In their blood-curdling flush of greenie inspiration (probably a 999-page report) in setting up more marine reserves in the Hauraki Gulf, the Government inadvertently forgot to tell the fish.
Perhaps they should have a system of undersea cones, directing them to their designated regions of safety?
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
Always a lady
Danna Glendining says "Abolish 'Lady' as it is both sexist and an anachronism" (NZ Herald, June 23).
I have always called a woman a lady, even when one said to me once "I am not a lady, I am a woman". I replied to her, "to me every woman is a lady until she proves herself
otherwise". She had no reply.
So stick with the title please. Surely, the lady title for women is the equivalent of gentleman for men? Hence the common announcement, even today, of "ladies and gentlemen".
Murray Hunter, Titirangi.
Arise, Sir
If the wife of a knight becomes a lady, the husband of a dame should become a lord.
Mike Wagg, Freemans Bay.
Beer with me
Last Saturday, I was offered a free ticket to the Blues v Highlanders game. I hadn't been to Eden Park for many years.
On arrival, I offered to buy my host a beer. At 6.50pm, the queue in the A Stand was massive, so I elected to wait until the game started.
At 7.23pm, I went up again, to observe even more fans waiting in line for a beer.
I finally got to the beverage counter at 8.15pm, ordered two cans of beer ($10 each) and pulled out a $50 note to be told cash was not accepted.
I returned to my seat with no drinks, embarrassed, annoyed and a bit humiliated.
Later on, I did observe a sign on the scoreboard announcing no cash was accepted, but too late for me.
The coffee shop next to the beer outlet was unattended.
The fans in the line with me were mostly annoyed and frustrated too, we expected much more, and a great night was spoilt. Never again.
I emailed Eden Park on Sunday night to express my disappointment but, so far, no response.
Paul O'Brien, Remuera.
Test champions
The Australian cricketers have lost the top world spot since being caught out for ball-tampering. Their captain's negativity over the Black Caps' prospects against India will not hide this fact, but it does show that he is a Payne in the Aus.
Hugh Webb, Hamilton.
Also rans
I now look forward to the playoff for third and fourth. More commonly known as The Ashes. Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
World Test Championship
Great performance. We also must show the greatest respect and sportsmanship to Virat Kohli for the way he hugged Ross and Kane after the match, and respect from the rest of their team. This is the way cricket should be conducted and, hopefully, Aussie test players were watching. Brian H
A lesson for young kids getting into cricket; you don't have to shoot from your mouth to look competitive. Have a poster of captain Kane to remind you of this fact. Shiva P
It seems unbelievable for someone who lived through the shaky results of the 60s and 70s. I never thought they could fight their way to the top. Seems likely a perfectly balanced team. Just goes to show that teams that invoke the Kiwi way (Team NZ in San Diego, the AB's time and again) are hard to beat. Tony W
This is one of NZ's greatest sporting achievements - for me it is our greatest. A game that we were so bad at eight years ago, and got rolled for 45 against South Africa. From there, we formulated a plan around teamwork and slowly built a new culture of determination and achievement. Everything about this story is something everyone in Aotearoa can be proud of. Keryn D
This game was headed for a draw. Somehow this amazing Black Caps team managed to find a way to win probably the most important game any of them have played. Truly a great team by any measure. Russell N
'His journey was just beginning as it is for so many of us.'