National party politicking continues to cause anger

UNTIL recently, Michael Woodhouse had begun to look like he might make a competent health minister. But now we have seen him use an invisible ‘‘homeless’’ man as a political ploy costing the Government wasted time and money, and then revelations of his disgusting sexist behaviour towards Clare Curran. Jacinda Ardern has required a lowlylisted Labour candidate to step down over antiMuslim remarks made eight years ago. Todd Muller should also remove Woodhouse from his front bench and ask him to step down at the election. We want integrity and respect from our senior politicians, not sleaze and fake news.

Diane Brown

Dunedin

I AM feeling increasingly disappointed with the behaviour of the opposition party and some media as this country faces perhaps it’s biggest threat ever — the constant critique of processes and errors is intolerable. If it was a challenge to support correction it wouldn’t be so bad but it feels more like a cynical use of the Covid19 crisis to further their own cause.

There is a critical need for the ‘‘Team of five million’’ to cooperate to beat this thing. These people need to refocus on the greater cause.

Bill Cubitt

Ocean View

THE picture of Michael Woodhouse behind a lectern that had attached to it a blue toilet seat with a picture of Clare Curran is graphic representation of disgraceful and shameful behaviour on the part of the National Party.

Whatever Curran’s misdemeanours, this was inexcusable.

I am now of the opinion that nothing Woodhouse and colleagues say can be taken seriously. All his and Todd Muller’s protestations that the sky is falling around the management of Covid19 is rubbish. Our situation speaks for itself.

Lou Scott

Kenmure

I SEE (ODT, 6.7.20) National MP Michael Woodhouse has a toilet seat with Clare Curran’s picture on it. How juvenile.

We should really expect more grownup behaviour from an MP. For heaven’s sake, we are paying his wages.

As for Hamish Walker not wanting returning New Zealand residents, especially if they are from India or Pakistan, in Southland — really?

Henry Schakelaar Abbotsford [Abridged]

UNTIL recently our politicians have largely taken seriously the advice provided by public health experts regarding Covid19.

I was therefore troubled to hear Michael Woodhouse recently assert, contrary to any public health advice I have heard, that there could be community transmission but we would not know because we weren’t testing the right people.

The trumping of expertise by partisan politics is a dangerous slope to slide down, resulting in the kind of tragic consequences we see in the United States of America.

Kerry Enright

Maori Hill

I WAS aghast to read National MP Hamish Walker's rather racist press release today.

He suggests that we should not allow citizens returning from ‘‘India, Pakistan and Korea’’ into our community.

These are New Zealand citizens; our neighbours, our friends, our family, our workmates — in short they are us.

This rather transparent attempt to court racist support is something we expect from the American South, or the Australian North, not from the New Zealand Parliament.

If Mr Walker is unwilling to represent all of us equally he has no legitimate place in Parliament and should resign immediately.

Paul Campbell

Belleknowes