Bill English man of the heartland

Bill English’s departure saddens me. He has served this country with distinction for a great many years. He has faced more political highs and lows than most politicians yet has always presented as cheery, warm and heartland-humble. His quiet leadership style has been a refreshing departure in an age of loudness, bombastic self-aggrandisement and the cult of flamboyant, antagonistic leadership.

In 2002, I briefly met Bill on a wet, grey, dismal day at a campaign rally when the poll numbers for National were plummeting. I will never forget the real warmth of his smile, his genuine interest in others, and his relentless enthusiasm despite the bleak political scene, worsening by the hour.

His sound management of the nation’s finances and quietly dignified, albeit brief, tenure as Prime Minister aside, I believe he will be remembered as typifying the best of a dying breed of New Zealander, a true man of the land whose love of country pumped palpably through his veins. He was a gentleman and a deep believer in the potential of New Zealanders to achieve all manner of great things through working together, strong families, community and a shared sense of national identity. We have much to thank him for. Sam Clements, Hauraki. of generational change in the Labour leadership and to some degree the Greens, which I am sure will increase following the election of their female co-leader. Bill English has emotionally announced his resignation after 27 years in Parliament, earning a day of accolades except for that curmudgeonly fossil of New Zealand politics, the Rt Hon Winston Peters. If ever there was a party in need of generational change it is NZ First.

Lance Gravatt, Wellsford. The National Party needs some new blood in the leadership race if it wants to be the government in 2020. Also a credible coalition partner.

There is no point in selecting the smug Steven Joyce or the Rottweiler Judith Collins, both of whom carry more baggage than a concierge. There is a greater chance of John Key becoming a socialist than either ever becoming PM.

In just over two years it will be election time and the National leader will be running against Jacinda’s cute 2-year-old, therefore the only possible choice for leader can be the cute Simon Bridges with the sexy voice. And his chances of becoming the next PM would be helped enormously if he can get up close and personal with Winston.

Graham Fleetwood, Mellons Bay. I often don’t agree with National’s policies but can totally acknowledge Bill English was a very competent and capable Finance Minister who brought a great amount of experience to his role and the wider party. Choosing a new leader for National will be difficult, not least because there is no clear successor.

As when the Labour Party selected David Cunliffe, David Shearer and Andrew Little as leader, the only question that needs to be answered is can the new National leader be more popular than Jacinda Ardern? Whatever way you frame it, it is undeniable that popularity reigns supreme and wins elections.

While Jacinda Ardern continues to show her strengths, it seems unlikely if not impossible that the likes of Judith Collins, Simon Bridges, Nikki Kaye and Jonathan Coleman could hope to provide any real competition by the 2020 election.

Ray Calver, Grey Lynn. privatising, making a profit, various freedoms about funding, staffing, selection of students and curriculum, small classes, niche orientation, strong (enhanced) taxpayer and ministry support. That is, a private model with state scaffolding.

The public-interest model assumes mass education that is publicly funded, with ministry oversight, catering for all and responding to diversity and change. Since the state insists on education for all, it provides for it in a public structure. In this case, Labour supports the public interest, which is a refreshing change in a society that has enthusiastically privatised public assets for over three decades. David Cooke, Pt Chevalier. Yesterday was “Go By Bike Day”. To mark the occasion and encourage cyclists, Auckland Transport sent out emails and established web notices offering pit stops between 7am and 9am for cyclists to call in for a coffee and muffin and to talk to council members about cycling. The message read that the event was on “rain or shine”.

It was not raining and I cycled to one of the three nominated pit-stop places, the Silo Park near the Viaduct Basin and got there around 7.15am. There was nobody else there. Thinking it might be just late like the buses, I waited and cycled around for a while. Then a sign appeared at one of the entrances to the Silo Park announcing events today at that area had been cancelled. The message suggested looking at the Silo Park website for more information. I have been unable to find any more information.

I am aware there are several groups contesting Auckland’s approach to promoting cycling and establishing new cycling lanes, criticising poor publicity, lack of consultation, lack of consistency, effects on businesses and the like. They certainly have a point.

Graham Carter, Herne Bay. Again, a small minority is dictating to the huge majority with the decision to close the summit of Mt Victoria to traffic from early March. This has to be Auckland’s best scenic view, one I have been proud to show overseas visitors, especially older ones, for many years.

This privilege is about to be taken from me because by some people’s reasoning, the mountain is sacred. That being the case, so are all Auckland’s beaches. Let’s close them off. So is the whole city, let’s close it. This idea has nothing to do with guardianship but more to do with elitism. It is a sad decision for Auckland and deserves better than being accepted so as not to offend a minority.

Bryan Jenkins, Greenhithe.