Letters: McClay upfront and informative

Todd McClay. Photo/File

I felt Todd McClay interviewed very well on Q+A on Sunday. Obviously not everyone would agree with his stance but he was very informative on a number of aspects to do with trade, i.e. relationships with China, Russia, the US, the EU, the One Belt/One Road strategy and where New Zealand fits in the scheme of things and what the Government is planning. He was upfront on several lines of thinking. Well done Todd.

And then of course with the Maori Party doing so well in the polls - Sunday was a pretty interesting day.

BELLA MOKE
Rotorua

Easter trading

When I made my submission to the Rotorua Lakes Council opposing Easter Trading I said they had not provided any hard data that I could see that demonstrated the benefits.

I think if they crunched some numbers they might demonstrate a marginal increase in gross domestic product (GDP). However, I believe a full, independent, cost-benefit analysis would show any economic benefits are massively offset by costs not currently accounted for.

Two months before he was assassinated, Robert F. Kennedy had the following to say about GNP (very similar to GDP):

"Our gross national product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors, and the jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwoods, and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm, nuclear warheads, and armoured cars for the police to fight the riots in our cities.

"Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile."

BOB BOARDMAN
Ngongotaha

Rotorua Airport

I completely agree with Jean Farley 's comments (Letters, March 27) about Rotorua Airport.

It works very efficiently and it is a delight to either pick up or drop off passengers and, having used it recently, so easy to board and disembark from flights - a pleasant change from the lengthy walks to and from the aircraft at other airports in New Zealand so I hope this doesn't change. Possibly the money is needed to upgrade the parts we don't see but, as a ratepayer, it would be interesting to know where the $4.9 million of our money is being spent?

ANNE FOALE
Rotorua