Undermanning puts all at risk

Claims by Tranzit managing director Paul Snelgrove (Trevor Mallard slams bus event as celebration of lost jobs for ‘my poorest neighbours’) that some drivers ‘‘milked’’ callback rates and ‘‘get paid more than you or I put together’’ distract attention from the corporate practice of undermanning rosters and disregard the need for people who operate machinery to have days off to maintain safe operating standards.

Undermanning rosters is a deliberate policy to reduce costs and win contracts. Companies like Tranzit build a flat rate into their contracts so they don’t have to pay their drivers extra to bring them in to work on their days off.

The consequences of undermanned rosters are a workforce who are overburdened, fatigued and vulnerable to accidents, which in turn endangers the safety of the travelling public.

The introduction of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) in 2013 by the previous government forced regional councils through the NZTA to introduce competition to public transport networks throughout NZ.

However, the reality is that bus companies have been incentivised to drive down drivers’ wages and conditions and bring in a fleet of noisy, polluting diesel buses.

Gillian Tompsett, Seatoun

Remarks fall short

The universal lesson of engaging the brain before opening one’s mouth has evidently not been learnt by Environment Minister David Parker in relation to the contracts now let to Transit NZ for part of the Wellington’s new bus system coming on stream this week.

Having opined on the matter, Parker then admitted that ‘‘he was not across the detail’’ but had listened to ‘‘grievances by some drivers’’.

This is hardly the standard of public comment befitting a Cabinet minister, especially one who had access to Greater Wellington Regional Council’s briefing information.

It appears, in a leaked report by TDM Consultants, that the majority of drivers will be better off under the new contracts. And surely he who cares for the environment is delighted to have buses powered by electricity on the streets?

The Speaker of the House, meanwhile, threw a hissy-fit, ducking the invitation to celebrate the arrival of the electric double-decker buses, thus playing ducks and drakes with his role in representing Parliament. Despite access to the briefing information, he has fallen short of reasoned consideration of the facts expected of the Speaker. What a goose.

Lesleigh Salinger, Wellington

Call me a Kiwi

Joel Maxwell (9 July) writes: ‘‘I can’t tell you what Pa¯ keha¯ means.’’

The problem with the term Pa¯ keha¯ is that it refers to everyone who is not Ma¯ ori, no matter what race or ethnicity. Being Ma¯ ori means being tangata whenua and therefore holding a special status that comes with ethnic-based rights and a superior recognition of culture and beliefs.

The term Pa¯ keha¯ is not in itself derogatory, but does by definition carry a cultural inferiority. For these reasons Pa¯ keha¯ is an inherently racist term.

I am of European heritage, of Welsh and Scottish descent. I don’t describe myself as Welsh or Scottish, nor as a Pa¯ keha¯ , but rather as a New Zealander or a Kiwi, because these are inclusive terms. They include everybody who considers New Zealand home, be they of European, Asian, African or American extraction and is also inclusive of Ma¯ ori.

Maxwell writes that it is Pa¯ keha¯ who need to have generosity of spirit. Ma¯ ori also need to be reminded that generosity of spirit has to be reciprocal and that they also share this land with those those whose ancestors came later.

If we don’t unite as New Zealanders we will fail as a country.

Richard Prince, Tauranga

Whale food source

The local New World store stocks an Antarctic Krill dip, a product of Belarus. One of its virtues is extolled as a health food.

Krill is a key prey species for whales, seals, penguins and other seabirds, fish and squid. As a baleen feeder, the rare right whale depends on krill as a major source of its diet.

Do we look forward in the near future to seeing lots more of these creatures as they are forced out of the Antarctic owing to the lack of their basic essential food? Our health and titillation, or their lives?

Susan McIntosh, O¯ taki Beach