Hats off to rural sector for keeping us going

WE, as a nation, have expressed our thanks to the health and police sectors on many occasions. They certainly deserve our thanks for the task they have undertaken during the past few weeks in lockdown to keep us all as safe as they can.

One sector that has not been recognised during this period is agriculture/horticulture. This sector has not stopped working, providing food for us to eat and, importantly, product that we been able to ship to the world, which in turn is largely contributing to the income into New Zealand during this period.

It is these people working on the land that will pull New Zealand out of the recession that is coming. The world will need our agricultural product.

As a nation, we must recognise the contribution these people make and rethink our attitude towards the control that many organisations put in place that have in the recent past made farming difficult.

There has been a lot of discussion about farming practices and the pollution they cause. It is noticeable that, over this period the world has been in lockdown, that pollution has reduced.

Why? The burning of fossil fuel has been reduced due to the reduction of manufacturing and vehicle movements but the animals still produce flatulence.

So I ask that we should concentrate on areas that will make the world a safer place by the reduction of burning of fossil fuel, reducing our everincreasing waste pile and overpopulation in the world

Bruce Abbott

Mosgiel

Different priorities

WHEN my father returned from World War 2, all he wanted was his feet on green New Zealand grass, his family and the security of knowing the past five years were behind.

On the eve of Level 3, New Zealanders interviewed on television could not wait for a barista coffee or their favourite takeaway.

What does this say about our preoccupation with what we consider necessities? I am shocked at Kiwis’ priorities in a world which may never be the same.

G. Grimm

Riversdale

Police shootings

I FAIL to understand why police appear to operate a shoottokill policy when faced with an armed offender, the majority of whom could be stopped advancing with a shot to the legs or shoulder, for example.

The official inquiries following such incidents never query this use of lethal force. Why not?

Judith Cowley

Maia

[NZ Police response and operations national manager Superintendent Andrew Sissons replies:

‘‘Every day, police officers are put into complex and fastpaced situations. They are required to make decisions when there is a potential risk to their lives and to members of the public.

‘‘Officers come to work to keep all members of our community safe, regardless of an individual’s actions or intentions. Our staff are trained to deal with high risk and evolving situations.

‘‘This training includes the police risk assessment tool TENR (Threat, Exposure, Necessity, Response). TENR assessments support safe decisionmaking by taking into account all relevant information which could impact on the situation and the safety of police officers, the public, and offenders .

‘‘The response to any given situation must be considered, timely, proportionate, and appropriate.

Every effort is made to minimise harm and maximise safety of everyone involved, including the offender.

‘‘Consequently, when an officer uses a firearm in an operational environment, a number of parallel investigations are launched, including one by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.’’]