Long past time to do something about NZ’s widening income gap

IT would seem part of New Zealand’s much touted and pervasive poverty issues stem from the legacy of governments in the last century which sought to make government enterprises businesslike.

The idea really was that they should be run in a businesslike fashion. Like notforprofit businesses.

Instead, these ‘‘businesses’’ are extracting money from Kiwis on a profit basis.

Every time expat Kiwis have come back to New Zealand for a visit in the last nearly 40 years I have heard them comment on the widening gap between the haves and havenots.

We need a paradigm shift in our thinking and our structures in order to deal with this, as there is only one way it is going at present.

The winter energy payment was a good idea and in line with the £30 that UK residents get, but the real issue here is profit.

Bring back the MED. Our power supply needs to be nationalised.

We need to be modelling ourselves on the Scandinavian model while dealing with profitsharing inequity in business and getting that tax from companies to pay for all that Kiwis require. Siobhan O’Donnell

Waikouaiti

The cost of discounting

THE Dunedin Opera Company (Opera Otago) would be delighted to be able to offer a senior discount on tickets (ODT, 4.8.18) for its production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

Unfortunately, putting on an opera with such a wonderful cast and orchestra costs a great deal.

While we receive generous financial support from a number of sources, we still depend on box office income to pay our bills.

We will keep Maureen’s comments in mind for future productions, and would like to let everyone know that we do offer a concession to members of our organisation, and would love for people to join us.

Ingrid FomisonNurse Chairwoman, Opera Otago ..................................

BIBLE READING: With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘‘He is good.’’ — Ezra 3:11.