Winston’s destiny

I have never been more anxious to take up pen and write than when I had read all of your newspaper’s pages written on Winston Peters to not only express my gratitude for once reading other than disrespectful, undeserved criticism of Peters that all media seem to delight in publishing, but also highlighting the undeniable fact Winston Peters at long last will get his just reward come September. It has been a long time coming but he has well served his period of becoming fully qualified to take over. Those in doubt merely have to ask when compared with the other aspirants, who better for the job, particularly at a time when above all else a wise older head, as described in the pages of your Saturday’s Herald, is needed.

Ian Girven, Orewa. housing and labour markets, as Brian Fallow observes. Nine years of the current Government have failed to remedy these structural problems — indeed it has caused them, with its prime focus on economic growth off the back of immigration. And now it is offering voters “stable government”, which backfired on Teresa May as that actually meant continued austerity for those who could least afford it.

Economic growth and stable government seem more like part of the problem than the solution. On top of which there might be a dozen “single issues” which could capture a party vote in the coming election; affordable housing, water/climate change policies, less immigration, better funding of social services over tax cuts, training the unemployed, tax reform, legalisation of drugs, rail transport . . . to name a few. We need a change of government far more than a stable government with policies we don’t like. And economic growth of course, but not at heavy cost to people and to the environment.

B. Darragh, Auckland Central.