As columnist Shane Te Pou reminds us (January 19), the penny-pinching National Government of the 1950s downgraded the excellent design for the Auckland Harbour Bridge, resulting in a second-rate structure – we have suffered the consequences of their short-term thinking ever since.
Surely we can learn from these disastrous decisions and do something innovative and progressive for a change.
Vivien Fergusson, Mt Eden.
Sick development
The fact that the nurses’ union is calling for the use of stab-proof vests and personal alarms (January 18) after a nurse was stabbed whilst on the job is troubling and a sad indictment on New Zealand society. This nurse subsequently left the profession after 20 years’ service.
What have we become if this sort of move is being considered? People become nurses with the desire to help others and should not have to consider being attacked whilst performing their duties. Nurses presumably have a strong sense of empathy and compassion for others. They also have to endure long hours, emotional demands and physical stress. However, with the increase in violence towards nurses, will the profession continue to attract people who are passionate about caring for others and making a difference?
Nurses are essential workers who place themselves on the front line to serve their communities. This front line should not be considered a war zone.
Bernard Walker, Mount Maunganui.
Cop this
Many lament how hard it is to get international agreement on action to address climate change.
Every year since 1995 we have seen yet another CoP (Conference of the Parties) session struggle to achieve consensus and have to resort to watering down the level of commitment to climate action in their final text. Although there have been improvements in the language used, the agreed guidelines are not mandatory and few countries fully meet them.
So I would suggest a different approach. Most governments are probably wary of making ambitious commitments which could result in their people feeling that they are doing more than their fair share – with potentially bad electoral consequences.
To obviate this fear driving a tendency to play it safe, all countries should be given credit for their reductions in climate gas emissions since a certain date – perhaps going back as far as CoP1 in 1995. As the climate emergency worsens, the CoP guidelines will be considerably toughened up, but having credit for past climate actions will mitigate that and encourage governments to sign up.
Graeme Easte, Mt Albert.
Heroes among us
As one meanders through the holiday period, do we give enough thought to those who provide us all with services that we may need urgently? That realisation came to us when a family member lapsed into unconsciousness outside the Clevedon Fire Station.
Despite an ambulance on its way, fire volunteers and an off-duty nurse quickly sprung into action and kept the patient stable. Along came the ambulance crew, who quickly took over and sped off to Middlemore Hospital where a dedicated team provided excellent treatment. From the start at Clevedon and then Middlemore, we were treated with professionalism and kindness. One can only hope that when it’s their turn to have a well-deserved break, they are treated in a similar manner.
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Sails trimmed
SailGP in Auckland fell flat for those watching on TV3 through Sky on both Saturday and Sunday when an additional race was squeezed into each day, but programme coverage ended before viewers got the final points standing for the day and the prizegiving after the final, which were all seen by those watching through Stan in Australia. Sir Russell Coutts will have to remedy these points.
Then there was the disappointment of the Black Foils not getting to the start line competitively in six of their seven races and having to work their way back through the fleet. These new thoroughbred T-foils are going to take a little getting used to, plus the new crew settling in.
Gary Carter, Gulf Harbour.
Treaty confusion
How refreshing to read Brian Roche’s common-sense approach to management of the public service (January 18). One of his major concerns is that staff continually impede progress because they believe new actions might breach the Treaty of Waitangi. This is one of the reasons David Seymour has called for a discussion of how the Treaty principles should be defined.
Janie Weir, Newmarket.
