Healthcare costs
The Herald is right to remind us of the other "fiscal elephant" in the room - growing healthcare costs. But don't panic. Good policy design will get us through.
NZ's healthcare costs, at about 9 per cent of GDP, are at the OECD average. And they are half the level of the US - 18 per cent of a much greater GDP per head (and with worse health outcomes).
How do we do so well? Family doctors (GPs), who deal with 90 per cent of illness. The DHB model, which keeps a balance of social care in the community. Pharmac, which keeps drug and technology costs low. And a single payer - the Government - which can insist on value for money. Plus a small private insurance sector (which in Australia requires major public subsidy and is poor at controlling costs).
If we were thinking of improvements, we could combine Pharmac, the Quality Commission and other agencies into an effective central co-ordinator and funder (like the old Health Funding Authority). An extension of ACC to cover illness would underpin the funding. Public health strategies for prevention would also help.
It is an illusion to think we can somehow reduce healthcare costs. Healthcare is an investment that advanced economies make in the wellbeing of their citizens, and that will rise as our expectations of quality of life do. We just need to monitor and manage those costs carefully within our national means.
Peter Davis, Compass Research Centre, University of Auckland.
Hit and Run
The proper initial response from Government about the contents of Hit and Run ought to be along the lines of, "These are very serious claims that demand a considered and serious response. When the Government has had time to understand them in detail, it will respond."
Instead, Paula Bennett dismissed the claims because of her unshakable trust in the Defence Forces and tried to smear one of the authors as a "left-wing conspiracy theorist". In her first test, she revealed herself to be way, way out of her depth as a Deputy Prime Minister.
Bill English's response was more measured but even he minimalised the seriousness of the claims by referring to them as "politically motivated". Our country deserves a higher standard of leadership.
Bill Walker, Whangarei.
Whanganui River
Perhaps Chris Finlayson got his inspiration for personifying the Whanganui river from Paul Robeson's Ol' Man River? Regardless, how do we know that the river approves of the identity of its human representatives? Would it not want like entities, because only another river can possibly understand a river's needs. We should therefore appoint some qualified rivers as its "guardians".
There can now be no end to what might be declared a "living thing". That will cause problems downstream for sure.
John Clements, Orewa.
Rates balance
The ordinary Auckland domestic householder, owners or those renting, should not have to pay for these proposed playground extensions for the rich and famous to the Auckland waterfront.
Some of the proposals seem reasonable but it is questionable as to whether some of the extension should even be allowed.
If loans to fund the projects are taken out by Auckland Council there should be a targeted rate on the business or commercial ratepayers until they're paid for ... and for the ongoing maintenance.
They are the main beneficiaries of these extensions. They can also claim these costs off their taxes. This is not possible for the ordinary citizen ratepayer.
Better still the council should go back to the "old" system where commercial and business ratepayers paid a much higher rate in the dollar than ordinary ratepayers.
In recent years the pro-business groups have lobbied for this differential rate between homeowners and the commercial sectors to be levelled out. Continually, domestic householders have had rate rises much higher than the rate struck just so commercial and business ratepayers' rate in the dollar could be reduced. If Auckland business and commerce want these developments let them pay for what they want.
Gillian Dance, Mt Albert.
Philanthropists
For Sam Clements to state that Graeme Hart does not lead the way sharing his wealth for philanthropic reasons is merely an assumption. Many wealthy individuals here in New Zealand contribute greatly to environmental, health, artistic, and social causes but choose not to publicise it. They quietly contribute and do not wish to engage in self promotion.
If Sam were to check his facts by getting in touch with some agencies that benefit from these anonymous philanthropists he would be pleasantly surprised.
Chas Foxall, Meadowbank.
All Blacks' success
Your correspondent R. Harrison questions the quality of the opposition in respect to the All Blacks' 93 per cent success rate. So here are some facts to question the quality of this accusation.
The opposition played are the very best rugby players from each nation. The All Blacks play the Lions who are the very best players from four nations combined. They play the Barbarians made up of the best players among the rest of the world, including New Zealand.
The Rugby World Cup has been played eight times with four winners - the same as the first eight Fifa World Cups.
Every year the All Blacks play two of the top four teams in the world and routinely beat them home and away.
Rugby is the national game of at least three other nations which the ABs beat consistently. Millions of dollars are spent analysing teams and finding ways to beat them, yet the All Blacks still win.
It is not the quality of the opposition that gives the All Blacks their stunning success rate. It is in fact the quality of the All Blacks.
Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
Reselling houses
That's great that wealthy investors are able to make such big profits by buying and reselling houses and forcing up prices. Bully for them! I guess it's what the National Government means when it prides itself on having "created wealth". But this must ring hollow for the thousands of young families who haven't a hope of affording a home of their own.
They are forced to contribute to the wealth of investors by spending two-thirds of their income on renting even a modest home or to move to cheaper locations away from their families, friends and all that is familiar to them.
Mothers who would like to stay at home with their children must work, probably on the minimum wage, to supplement the family income.
In "creating wealth" this Government has succeeded in creating despair, the disruption of families and a life of struggle to achieve basic living standards for many New Zealanders. No, the wealth does not "trickle down", quite the reverse.
Anne Martin, Helensville.
Inquiry on raid
There needs to be a full and open inquiry into the matters detailed in Nicky Hager's latest book, which alleges that New Zealand SAS took part in a revenge raid in Afghanistan which killed innocent civilians.
If the Government shrugs the matter off as not being worthy of further comment or an open inquiry, we will know there has in fact been a Government cover-up. If there has been a cover-up and Government spokespersons have lied to the media and the public, they should and will be held accountable by the NZ public.
If the Government says Hager's allegations are untrue, then it must sue him in the open courts, such are the seriousness of the allegations. A failure to do that will be an admission by the Government. Let's have some resolution now ... not after the general election.
Dennis Pennefather, Te Awamutu.
