Fix the country from the top of the cliff, forget ambulances

If we all know the fence at the top of the cliff is a warm and dry house, clothes on our backs, food in our bellies and a productive job with sufficient wages to pay for all those things, including a spare 4 per cent for KiwiSaver, why are so many people stumbling around in the debris of mud slides and rubble at the bottom of the cliff, while waiting for an overworked ambulance with a broken siren and a flat tyre? Fix the fence and retire the ambulance.

Nigel Meek, Bayswater

An important question about Winston Peters’ superannuation overpayment has not been asked. From time to time, the Ministry of Social Development contacts single superannuitants to ascertain their domestic circumstances remain the same — ie, that they are still living alone. I can only assume Peters does not read his mail.

Colleen Stephenson, Howick

Richard Prebble just doesn’t get it. He attacks Jacinda Ardern for not “scoring hits” on Paula Bennett. Ardern is not into scoring hits. She’s into trying to help bring about a better future for New Zealanders: clean, unpolluted waterways, an end to child poverty, housing the homeless, fairness in wages, gender equality. Things that really matter.

Lynn John, Orewa

The major issues with housing and transport in Auckland could easily be sorted with three straightforward actions by a new government. Firstly, encourage people and businesses to relocate from Auckland to regional centres where housing is plentiful and affordable, and expensive infrastructure is already in place. The Government could initiate this by relocating all government departments and state-owned enterprises to regional cities. Secondly, introduce disincentives