Will we come to regret vaping?
It is inconceivably unbelievable that any Government allowed vaping to become legal in NZ. What were they thinking? They have spent years endeavouring to dissuade people to stop smoking, spending millions on advertising, posters, signage, etc and raising the price of tobacco products each
year to help smokers cut down.
Then without any research or idea of the potential harm vaping may cause, the Government legalises vaping, essentially swapping one habitual dummy for another.
Does anyone know what chemicals these vaping products contain and the damage it does to ones lungs. Who is caring?
If the Government was smart it would take tobacco products out of the dairies, supermarkets and service stations and into specialist stores only.
The tobacco companies are laughing all the way to the bank!
Wait another 20-30 years and we will regret the present decisions on the sale of vaping gear.
Marie Kaire, Whangārei.
Disorganised Nats
Lots of people engage me in conversations moaning about the high-handed attitude of the Labour Government and it's absolute lack of delivery on any of its election promises.
The reality is would National be any better? They can't even organise their own party and behaviour.
As Matthew Hooton remarked in his column, NZ politics has never seen such an ineffective opposition and maybe the National party should completely disband and reform in a more cohesive form with completely new leadership.
National in its present form will never be able to convince New Zealanders to vote them into power and Jacinda and co can keep on doing whatever they want to with total disregard to the electorate.
Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.
Language deficiency
The report of the deliberations of Parliaments Education Select Committee (NZ Herald June 2) and the subsequent commentary from Audrey Young makes for disturbing reading.
The Bill before the committee would have provided the basis for primary and intermediate schools to teach a second language from a list of 10 to be gazetted by the minister. This would be in addition to the requirement to provide learning in te reo.
Labour members of the committee have killed the Bill, notwithstanding that when it was introduced by National's Nikki Kaye it had cross party support.
New Zealand is currently in negotiations with the European Union for a free trade agreement; our trade agreement with China is regularly updated and recent messages from the Government have encouraged major exporters not to place all their eggs in the China basket.
As well there is no doubt that the Southeast Asia market will continue to provide growing export opportunities of value.
Against this background one would have thought that as part of the plan (if there is one) would be the need to upskill our efforts in those languages that will be of use to the coming generation in dealing with a variety of trading partners.
The Royal Society has criticised our woeful lack of proficiency in languages.
What better place to start when minds are young and open to such an opportunity.
The Government's approach is short-sighted and runs counter to New Zealand's need to better compete on the world stage.
Bruce Manson, Ōrewa.
Vaccine riddle
It is incredible that so many border workers and their household contacts still haven't had their vaccine jab.
But more incredible are the never- ending reasons why this is the case. My favourite so far from Ashley Bloomfield is that we were only at "the end of the beginning."
Really? Will we ever get to the beginning of the end?
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
