Letters to the editor: Housing crisis didn't sneak up on us

The housing crisis was deliberately created by a party which has never believed that the poor should be homeowners at all, writes a reader. Photo / File

Zizi Sparks, in her editorial, writes that the housing crisis "snuck up on us slowly but surely".

Really? Where was she living during National's nine disastrous years in power?

Between 2010 and 2017, it introduced three policies that ensured a housing crisis would arise.

First, it began selling state houses, most of which were bought by landlords who immediately doubled the rent.

As homeless appeared on the streets, in doorways and under bridges, National then decided foreigners could buy up as many houses as they liked.

As the numbers of homeless grew into the thousands, National doubled down and allowed unlimited immigration, with no new housing or infrastructure to service all these people. It was a perfect storm.

By September 2017, voters had had enough of watching families sleeping in cars, in tents in the middle of winter and bunking two or three families in a garage. The Government was dumped by the people, horrified that New Zealand had allowed this to happen.

Economists, at the time of the election, agreed it would take a generation to fix the problem.

The housing crisis was deliberately created by a party which has never believed that the poor should be homeowners at all.

Lizzie Murdoch
Mangakino

Rotorua more than adequately represented by Māori

Having spent some years on the council, like Glenys Searancke, I have listened to many councillors speak on behalf of Te Arawa over the years.

As Rotorua Residents and Ratepayers member Glenys Searancke rightly points out, the Rotorua council has always had several councillors representing Te Arawa, and they have been elected at large as a result of standing and being counted.

As pointed out, four of the 10 councillors at the moment are Māori.

In my view, Rotorua has historically been more than adequately represented by Māori, which makes a mockery of this Government's claim of lack of Māori representation, and hence its undemocratic change in legislation.

(Abridged)

Mike McVicker
Rotorua

Violence is a mistake

Regards the letter about corporal punishment (Letters May 14) - that old chestnut re the rod is in my opinion enough to make one cringe, especially when followed by what I believe is that tired homily about it never doing any harm.

If history proves anything it is that treating violence with violence is a mistake.

Mike Byrne
Rotorua

The Rotorua Daily Post welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following:
• Letters should not exceed 200 words.

• They should be opinion based on facts or current events.

• If possible, please email.

• No noms-de-plume.

• Letters will be published with names and suburb/city.

• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only.

• Local letter writers given preference.

• Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged.

• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor's discretion.

• The Editor's decision on publication is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Email editor@dailypost.co.nz