Precious land
Accolades to Ms Ardern and Mr Peters for swiftly moving to prevent foreigners from buying existing homes and farmland. Land has throughout human history been recognised as a precious commodity. Many wars have been fought over it due to the intrinsic financial, economic, and emotional rewards and benefits it gives to individuals, families and the state.
Land ownership, as well as the ability to occupy land for stable, long-term periods in the case of renters and lessees, allows for the growth of sense of self and community, helps foster mental wellbeing, and enables people to develop deep roots and connection to place.
Globally, arable and humanly occupiable land is becoming sought after with ever greater urgency, as the worlds population booms, and global warming threatens. New Zealand is seen as an oasis of stability, beauty and agricultural and horticultural promise.
It is time we looked after our own first and foremost, with far greater attention given to the calibre, quality and skills we seek in prospective immigrants. We could well become the Switzerland of the South Pacific, through careful, long-term planning of immigration numbers, with criteria matched carefully to professional skill needs, not cheap labour.
Sam Clements, Hauraki.
Foreign buyers
Foreign buyers, I am sure, are not specifically favoured with their New Zealand farm and real estate purchases. Property is generally sold to the highest bidder regardless of the nationality of the purchaser once they have passed the criteria of the OIO. Selling to foreigners is faster as it takes time for a New Zealand purchaser to arrange the necessary finance if it is possible.
Esther Bowden, Hamilton.
Setting wages
Ms Ardern has told us the minimum wage is going up and then remembered to announce that she will talk to business. There is nothing more galling than a politician who has never had the pleasure of being in your shoes telling you how to wear them for the next three years. It is so important for the new coalition to remember the power of the people is stronger than the people in power. So rather than talking at us she might like to actually consider talking to us first.
Craig Dalton, Claro Design, East Tamaki.
Snubbing Greens
Winston Peters chooses to ignore the fact that 43.2 per cent of voters specifically voted for a well-advertised Labour-Green coalition and the mutually compatible principles and policies that those two parties share.
The 7.2 per cent who supported NZ First were not voting for any particular political alignment, they were mainly members of the populist Winston Peters fan club who didnt really care where the party took them as long as their boy wound up sharing the drivers seat with somebody.
If Winston continues openly snubbing the Greens (who garnered a mere 0.9 per cent less than NZ First) he exposes himself to two quite dangerous risks: alienating that 43.2 per cent who did not vote for Winston to wind up calling the shots in the new Government, and weakening the power of Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party as they could quickly lose a lot of face by becoming dominated by a minor player with a big ego and a lot of bravado.
I hope the NZ First caucus will prove to have some backbone and common sense in keeping the party in a constructive supporting role to the clearly mandated leadership of the Labour Party, and work harmoniously with the Greens to ensure New Zealand benefits from a new Government that aims to deliver some positive new approaches to governance and the choice of priorities.
Bill Brownell, Kaiaua.
Social comment
As an avid follower of New Zealand rugby, I read every article written on Mondays about the previous Saturdays test. Most of it is very good but I have been alarmed recently at the attitude of two of your contributors towards Israel Folau. The most recent one writes regarding the back of the week: This award could easily have gone to the elusive Israel Folau but he is anti-gay marriage. Screw that guy.
Israel Folau is a great rugby player and a committed Christian with a biblical world view of the meaning of marriage. Surely he is entitled to some respect for that viewpoint. Can you imagine the reverse happening? So and so was the best player on the field but he supports gay marriage so screw him. My guess is you wouldnt allow it to be printed and if it was there would be a huge outcry.
It is rather ironic that at the same time as the Herald is espousing inclusiveness of all diversity it allows such comments to be written about someone with a Christian perspective.
Colin Ross, Mt Roskill.
Lottery win
Well, what a surprise. Winston is Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. How can it be a sitting MP rejected in his electorate, whose party never won a seat, manages to run the entire government selection process then makes an announcement on national TV advising that if everything turns to custard, its not his fault, all the time knowing he had landed two of the highest-profile positions in Government?
I doubt I will take the time to bother voting again. We should perhaps just tag the election process on to the end of the Saturday night Lotto show, at least we might have an earlier result.
Rob Boston, Glenfield.
Short-sighted
Before Phil and Jacinda commit $Xb to light rail to the airport they should consider this. With the coming of the electric car the average cost for the Auckland commuter to travel from the airport to the CBD by car would be 30c. The cost by rail at the present rate would be $5 to $6, no doubt propped up by a rapidly diminishing (with the advent of the electric car )10c petrol tax.
It doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out which mode of transport Auckland and visitors would use. It also doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out Phil Goff will realise his blunder and tax electric car owners to the hilt. Another short-sighted, costly Auckland Harbour Bridge project will unfold and Aucklanders will once again pay the price.
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
Silent victims
Unlike B.A. Mudford, I believe it is of great importance that the Herald publish information about the activities of high-profile people such as Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby. It is only when they are publicly exposed that the behaviour can be stopped. I could speculate as to the age and gender of B.A. Mudford who wonders why women take years to come forward.
Jimmy Savile had abused young girls and women over many decades, as had Rolf Harris and others. One of the many reasons given why women and men take a long time to come forward is their belief that they will not be believed and many were disbelieved until the accusations could no longer be ignored.
Its not just girls and women who are affected. Boys and men also struggle to speak about abuse. If anyone has any doubts, they should watch the 2015 movie Spotlight about how investigative journalists of the Boston Globe exposed the extend of child abuse by members of the Catholic Archdiocese. Not only have the abusers preyed upon vulnerable people, society has let them get away with it.
Gail FitzGerald, One Tree Hill.
Voting for a government
I wish commentators who still support MMP would stop patronisingly accusing those of us who dont of not understanding it. MMP achieves proportional representation in Parliament, but for electing governments it is utterly useless. I would like the ability to vote for governments returned to me, thanks.
Dr Gerard Willemsen, Epsom.
