New Zealand politicians have hit back at Australia's deportation policy and a senior Australian politician who referred to deporting Kiwis as 'taking out the trash'. Photo / Channel 9, Screengrab
I am sure most of us here are shocked by the way Australia is deporting New Zealand citizens because they have been found guilty of a crime or considered to be of "bad character", such as belonging to a gang — calling these people "trash".
Like most of us
here I immediately reacted to the news, wanting our politicians to take some sort of reciprocal action. However, on further consideration I realised that by doing so, we would be stooping to their level.
The fact that Australian politicians do not show compassion for others shows flaws in their character. They continue to follow the white Australia policy and do just what Britain used to do in deporting its "trash" to Australia.
At least here our voters are intelligent enough to look for moral character when we vote for our leaders, not like Australia where they end up with leaders who will stoop to underhand methods to get what they want — even in cricket.
Brian Alderson, Glen Eden.
I feel a bit sorry for Meghan and Harry. They are stuck at home with a baby. It's not as if they can decide to get away for a holiday, which they seem to need.
They have no work to go to or have to arrive home to a fractious baby needing dinner, bath and bed, like parents who need two full-time jobs to pay the mortgage. Did no one dare to explain to Megan that under the George V convention, Archie could be a prince when his great-grandmother dies?
Meghan has the best of maternity care, could she not have asked for the best psychiatric care as well?
Being in the royal family, and with their massive influence, Harry and Meghan had the chance to do real good in the world. They have squandered it all to brood and alienate his family.
Rosemary Balme, Auckland.
Can the Government explain how it plans to adjust or wind down MIQ requirements as an increasing percentage of the population is vaccinated?
There will be pent-up demand for travel, and from the middle of 2021 it seems we can expect outbound business and leisure travellers in increasing numbers, all now requiring to enter MIQ on their return to New Zealand.
It looks obvious that unless MIQ facilities are expanded greatly or, preferably, the Government works with a lighter touch, there will be a huge MIQ bottleneck and extensive travel delays by late 2021. This will be aggravated by the reopening of international student business — extremely urgent for our tertiary education institutions.
While it appears that having been vaccinated does not necessarily stop one from being infectious, can we reconsider more flexible possibilities for returning travellers such as self-isolation at home, as has been allowed in special cases?
Heaven forbid, but maybe even wearing an ankle bracelet might help.
John Raine, Devonport.
There's an outcry of indignity and disappointment from the business community on the decisions our Government made with this latest outbreak in Auckland.
We all understand the difficulties faced by business and wonder where the Government could have drawn a line when placing level restrictions. But the priority from Jacinda Ardern's Government on the advice of Ashley Bloomfield and the science community has always verged on the side of caution.
One wonders where we would have been without their "over" reaction, or the kind of leadership we would have had from those professing greater knowledge.
We are also aware many countries are facing a third wave with many citizens still dying, mainly because they did not move quickly enough, or opened up too soon.
Perhaps instead, businesses might think appreciatively of the number of people still walking around as potential consumers and not lost forever.
Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.
Despite the naysayers and some sensation-seeking opinion writers, the team of 5 million, although not always happy, listen to Jacinda Ardern who acts on advice from experts on Covid-19.
It is difficult to accept restrictions when we have few community cases but we appreciate why this is so.
We have a relative in Ireland who bemoans the way Covid has decimated her country. There, the lack of adherence to restrictions and advice has caused several spikes and business has suffered much more than here.
They have the same population as us but as of March 13 had 226,358 cases and 4534 deaths compared to our 2422 and 26 deaths. It can't get more stark than that.
We should congratulate ourselves on our efforts to stave off an epidemic and with the jab just round the corner perhaps we should stay the course a little longer.
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Perplexing questions of fairness and logic arise out of the Government decision to prioritise one geographical section of the Auckland region for Covid vaccination.
Few would dispute that people over 65 should be given priority for jabs, but why is it that those living in the Counties-Manukau DHB area are to be placed higher in the queue than the rest of Auckland's elderly?
The MOH website says they are more "high-risk", but this is questionable. Counties-Manukau, which includes places such as Howick and Pukekohe as well as "South Auckland", has no demonstrably greater risk than the rest of Auckland.
Government statements have mentioned the prevalence of MIQ facilities in South Auckland as indicators of risk. Yes, there are seven in the region, almost all in the airport precinct, but there are 10 others in the CBD, Ellerslie and Mt Wellington, plus 14 in other cities.
And since those who work in border-facing jobs, those in medical front lines (and the families of both groups) are already prioritised, is there need for a geographical split of the elderly as well?
It also seems unfair that when it comes to Covid outbreaks, alert levels and lockdowns, Auckland can be treated as a huge undifferentiated mass, with Orewa for instance assessed as being just as risky as Papatoetoe.
Yet, when it comes to positive prioritisation for inoculations, suddenly the city gets redefined and fragmented geographically.
Brian McDonnell, Grey Lynn.
Now we are on the cusp of the vaccination roll-out it would be a good time to put out more information about why and how the vaccines work and why it's important we all co-operate.
This should be presented in an easily understood format and advertised on TV regularly, so those less sure of the process are better informed and less likely to be swayed by silly ideas. The elderly have memories of disease outbreaks and realise the need to vaccinate but younger citizens need to be convinced.
There is a fundamental flaw ... a glaring gap in Auckland's public bus services. Here in East Coast Bays, many people will not use existing bus services because the nearest bus stop is too far away
for the young and elderly. In my case the walk is over 800m ... the first bit steeply uphill.
Most of our roads are narrow lanes. If the authorities are genuine in promoting greater use of public transport,
a minibus feeder service, secondary to the existing one — or a service in its own right — would allow the smaller buses to ply our narrow seaside roading network with ease.
If provided with this convenient and accessible local solution, many more would become bus fans.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.
When Aucklanders enjoy the America's Cup harbour we should thank the man who preserved it. When Sir Dove-Myer Robinson became mayor he ended the plan to lay a large underwater pipe to carry the city's untreated sewage to be discharged by Brown's Island. Our eastern beaches would have been buried beneath plastic and the waters too fouled to use.
On his death, the citizens dedicated a prominent headland to his memory and it should be free of unrelated structures. Our present mayor must act to preserve the place to its dedicated purpose.
The Erebus dead deserve a memorial in a place that has a relationship with Antarctica — Christchurch Airport.
John E. Binsley, Parnell.
On 'trash'
Rather than saying "we're taking out the trash", wouldn't it be more accurate for Australian politicians to say: "We're throwing our trash over our neighbour's fence"? Doug Hannan, Mount Maunganui.
On vaccine
Developing evidence suggests the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine should be given 12 weeks after the first, and not at three weeks. In a zero Covid environment here this would enable more to receive the first dose earlier. Stewart Hawkins, Auckland.
On lockdowns
Congratulations to Bruce Cotterill for his March 13 article condemning the Government. It is staggering the Government has not developed any strategy beyond the harmful brutality of lockdown. Sir David Williams KNZM QC
On Commercial Bay
I went to Commercial Bay over the weekend, what a cold, empty, soulless place. Downtown Mall had such a good energy, great shops and was buzzing. So many fond memories of working there and buzz of America's Cup ticker tape parade in 1999. Helen Lowe, Auckland.
On Braunias
Sometimes Steve Braunias excels himself with The Secret Diary of ... The Ardern Gang brings a smile and a chuckle, a great way to start the day. Ann Kidd, Motueka.
On Hosking
What a pity Mike Hosking won't be able to delve into the Prime Minister, her announcement reducing the Auckland level, Clarke Gayford and the truth. Peter Newfield, Takapuna.
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The 19-year-old was found in a remote area in the hills of Upper Hutt.