Dr Sinead Donnelly, MD, FRCPI, FRACP.
Gender gap
Annika Streefland writes a good article about how she has closed the gender gap at Contact Energy. Then ruins it by explaining why. Her reason is not the good old Kiwi "give everyone a fair go" nor the obvious commercial reason that putting a man ahead of a superior woman is an inefficient use of talent. No, her reason is that fashionable buzzword "diversity".
Ms Streefland argues that "diversity is vital to navigating the massive change and disruption affecting all sectors". And then says that without diversity you get "groupthink" and are unable to innovate. But where is her evidence that diversity is vital? Or that men cannot think out of the square?
Certainly ethnic diversity and gender balance are very helpful in sensitive jobs that depend on interacting with the public, for example, teaching, police, social work, but is it really essential in a power station?
I suggest having achieved her goals at Contact Energy she moves to the Department of Education and gets more men into primary schools. If that is too difficult then she could try Ateed, where all the leadership positions are held by men and all of them can be contacted via their female secretaries.
Bob Atkinson, Birkdale.
Hager's stirring
Really? Another hat-trick from Nicky Hager in election year? Has Mr Hager ever served in the Middle East or Asia? In extreme heat, dust, not knowing who your enemy is, maybe hiding under a burka or stolen uniform? Totally corrupt governments? Fragmented tribal infighting among the local warlords?
He might do some reading and realise that maybe there is a reason there is a lot of PTSD among soldiers returning from those extreme areas and, yes, some will maybe get so frustrated that they retaliate and innocent victims die. But that is war: cruel, stupid, primitive and, yes, people die.
So is Mr Hager really interested in those victims? I think not. He wants to stir things up in election year and has found a niche topic - a total non-subject. I hope the press won't waste too much time on the topic. How about the many more innocent victims killed every year right here in New Zealand by parents or carers: our own children. Maybe a nice topic for him to concentrate on. He has three years till the next elections.
Hennie van Kooten, Hamilton.
Selling water
When one moves to a retirement village, an apartment is not purchased. Instead, one buys a "Licence to Occupy". Similar thinking should be applied to water exports.
For fresh water consumption in New Zealand, let the current situation still apply. However, where any overseas-based corporation wishes to use our fresh water for bottling and sale, then a "Licence to Extract" of 15-20c a litre should apply. The water is not being sold, the corporation only being charged for the privilege of taking it.
A subtle difference, I admit, but it does solve the problem. Nick Smith should take it on board and become the recipient of bouquets, rather than brickbats!
Warwick Maxwell, St Heliers.
Boom boxes
Like many others I spent 20-odd years trying to get the "give way to the right" rule removed. With joy we celebrated victory a couple of years ago. I've spent even longer than that trying to get fireworks banned and now may have to settle for the weak result of a ban on rockets and bangers. A rule that every year the manufacturers seem to edge around a bit. It will take a national disaster now to start a scream for a total ban.
Now we have time to get to work on the third major problem, boom boxes. These terrible things are a menace to not only peace and quietness but also sanity. It is incredible that a car owner driving around with a noisy exhaust can be quickly jumped on by authorities and fined, but to drive around deliberately blasting the ether with ear-shattering noise that is pleasurable to no one is perfectly acceptable.
It is high time this should be brought under control. Restrict the offenders to special areas where they can upset only each other, or better still bring them under the noise control rules.
Deigh Davies, Waiuku.
Retirement savings
I feel for R. Stewart, a 92-year-old war veteran who is now in a rest home paying for his care. As he states, you are penalised the more you work and save for your retirement, whereas if you do not work or save and spend up large you will be looked after by the Government. Also included is his veteran disablement pension as an asset.
My husband worked hard all his life and saved and because of this in the four years he was in a rest home around $200,000 was taken for his care.
I have heard many people say they will spend up and go on trips, etc, as the Government will look after you when you are old and need care.
This is so unfair for the responsible people who try to save for their retirement and their family's well-being, and then are penalised for it.
P. Salvador, West Harbour.
River's personhood
Why does Rachel Stewart consider anyone who opposes the Whanganui River being a person must be white, racist, anti-abortionist and stock-standard dimwit. Does she really think that only those people think it ridiculous a river being given status as a person.
Yes, we need to protect our waterways but make them a person, really. I admit to being a stock-standard dimwit. However, if we now have a river as a person how about giving the unborn child a legal identity as a person and not just a fetus that can be discarded if not wanted.
Barrie Cavill, Henderson.
Trump and hate groups
One of the more disturbing effects of the election of Donald Trump is the advancement of the radical right. The people who form the hate groups see themselves as having a friend in the White House. Trump's targeting of minorities appears to give them legitimacy in their endeavours to intimidate.
The United States has moved a long way from the shameful days of discrimination against minorities of all kinds. It must not step backwards into the radical nationalism that could destroy the gains made at the sacrifice of many over the years of enlightenment.
Peter Burn, Gulf Harbour.
Threat alarm
Every week we seem to hear of another small business attacked by greedy no-hopers. Why not create a version of the wearable medical alert system so anyone under threat can immediately and unobtrusively call for help?
It should even be possible in these technical times to add an instruction to lock the doors, turn off lights, etc, to make escape more difficult for the offenders.
Jeanette Grant, Mt Eden.
Hair length
Schools, like in this case Auckland Grammar School, regulating acceptable hair length in a obviously gender-discriminatory way belong in the 1800s and not in the 21st century.
Perhaps time to renew the board at Auckland Grammar School and retire those who live in the past? In this century we treat boys and girls the same!
Frank Olsson, Freemans Bay.
Servitude through debt
There is an alternative to Chris Whelan's Pollyannaish view about elevated student indebtedness. Large firms that dominate hiring can offer below-competitive salaries, knowing debt-burdened graduates absolutely must get a job. This is a form of indentured servitude. Do we want that?
Robert Myers, Beresford Square.
