Pandemic should prompt country’s call to action
LET’S make some important changes once we have dealt with Covid19. Some big shifts, in the way this country is organised and governed.
Covid19 in New Zealand needs to be our calltoaction. New Zealanders and the Government have rallied around to support those in need. This includes the countless Kiwis who in ordinary times would struggle anyway. Covid19, I think, will demonstrate the depth of this need that has been staring at us all this time.
We must look inside this virus and learn from it. Let’s absorb the proportions of the agony our fellow Kiwis are suffering, have been suffering and will suffer into the future. Let’s start thinking about how the great New Zealand may yet be greater.
I’m talking fundamental change. How we govern, ignore the current powerbrokers and special interest groups; make it smarter and tighter, bipartisan, not 120 people trying to make decisions; limit wealth accumulation, let’s not have communism — that failed.
Just a few random thoughts to get the ball rolling.
Before we do, let’s be in awe at the bravery and compassion of our prime minister and her advisers (that’s coming from a Nat). We have dodged a bullet, thanks team.
Rufus HallamEames Paraparaumu
[Abridged]
READING of the party 65 overseas visitors decided to have at a Queenstown Backpackers enrages me (ODT, 31.3.20). How dare they. While the rest of New Zealand is confined and restrained (rightly so) from everyday activities these idiots view it as ‘‘party time’’.
I would take all names and when this is over deport the lot of them and bar them from reentering for at least three years. We need to get tougher on ‘‘lockdown breakers’’.
Graham Bulman
Roslyn
GIVEN our present unprecedented situation now would be a good time for the Dunedin City Council to review its plans for George St and the Octagon.
Two recent visits to Europe and Scandinavia revealed that pedestrianised areas can work but with certain caveats. These are; adequate, convenient parking; excellent, affordable public transport links and a sufficiently large population.
When we look at Dunedin we find reduced parking, poor transport links and a small population. Something could be done about the parking but we are unlikely to ever have excellent public transport or a sufficiently large population.
Scrapping the DCC’s vanity projects would give struggling businesses a fighting chance to get back on their feet and remove the need to increase the rates.
Can we expect leadership from the mayor on this? I doubt it. There hasn’t been any so far.
David Tordoff
Macandrew Bay
I UNDERSTOOD we all, except essential services, were supposed to stay home. A while ago I went round the block for some fresh air and I got to Hillside Rd. I was astounded by the number of cars on the road, some maybe going to the supermarket, but I counted about 50 cars going both ways in the approximate five minutes I stood there. Please play the game if we want to beat this nasty virus.
Henk Kokay
Caversham.