Not so great

Was John Key’s financial management that great? We were told the Christchurch rebuild would pull us out of global recession not John Key’s actions. On top of this has come Auckland’s break-neck intensification based on importing thousands of foreign nationals and now the Kaikoura/Wellington rebuild has been added to the mix, meaning demand for materials and services has burgeoned.

But these events add nothing to our wealth. We have not added value to our products, increased organic and upmarket production for premium prices, nor encouraged diversification or further reforestation. There has been a massive sell-off of our land to overseas interests to the detriment of local people.

We have imported millions of dollars worth of poor-quality products, which will end up in landfill, under free trade agreements. Our superannuation fund is being drained by elderly foreigners coming here on the back of their younger relatives often to be abandoned here when the young go to Australia or return home. Our overseas debt has gone from something like $15 billion to $54b, our police are under-resourced, our hospitals endangering people due to financial cutbacks and the education system almost on its knees with the new funding model proposed. Such is John Key’s legacy. Judith G. Mackereth, Howick.