Euthanasia taints mental health arena

That Lifeline does not have the funding to respond to calls from suicidal New Zealanders is shocking, together with the recent news that our suicide rates have risen for the fourth year in a row. I am concerned that an underlying culture of acceptance of suicide is slowly but surely developing, fuelled by the public promotion of so-called “assisted dying” with its insistence on the autonomy of the individual. When “choice” is held up as the ultimate arbiter for decision-making in one area of medical ethics it is difficult to try to deny its application in another.

A close member of my family committed suicide just on two years ago, leaving my sister to deal with the awful aftermath. I moved my family to a new region to support her and my niece and nephews in their grief and total confusion. We did this to try to help ensure none of the heart-broken children followed the example of their father.

Many such people do not have relatives able to support them, which is why Lifeline and others like them urgently need our backing. It does not help at all that the Seymour bill has no real protection for those with such issues because the test for mental capacity is extremely weak. We should increase the funding for mental health and look closely at the whole spectrum of dangers. A. J. Dickson, Woodville.

Revenge in death

It must surely be in the worst possible taste to plan and use your own funeral to get back at an enemy, even in politics. You are supposed to thank mother earth for your existence, apologise for any possible harm you did, and make peace with life’s opponents. The late John McCain’s true nature is now irrevocably revealed in all its stark aggressiveness. What a pity. The Donald is right not to dignify John’s sulkiness with any riposte.

Jim Carlyle, Te Atatu Peninsula.

Super City

The editorial about the Super City is right about the Unitary Plan and Auckland Transport. What more evidence does the Government need that the Super City is a disaster? The nail in the coffin could be development organisation Panuku which is selling off Auckland’s parks and open spaces. It’s time to get rid of Auckland’s dysfunctional local government system.

Susan Wann, Milford.

Heed Australia

Our Government has good reason to contemplate the abrupt political changes in Australia resulting largely from public angst over immigration and energy policies. Australians ask why, with its vast energy resources, has it gone from having the lowest to amongst the highest power costs in developed countries? The failure of Australia’s highly subsidised renewables electricity programmes demonstrates the current need for traditional high baseload energy sources.

Better informed and more active in open debate than Kiwis, many Australians, even some politicians, challenge the fanciful ideology of humandriven climate change so inconsistent with our planet’s well-recorded history of continuous climate change, which was never driven by carbon dioxide.

Realising that draconian emissions control schemes will have no significant impact on global climate, Australians are demanding a return to cheap and reliable power. The new energy minister has responded and will focus on reducing economy-damaging power costs and shelve talk of emissions controls.

New Zealand, blessed with its high hydroelectricity component, will be more forgiving of bad government policy. Nevertheless, the Zero Carbon Act will cause serious economic damage and make no difference to climate. Our politicians have much to learn from Australian and UK energy policy failures and should be looking beyond the shrill voices of policy-driven institutions, green activists and vested interests. A. Climie, Whangarei.

Immigrant corruption

It is extremely disappointing there is a steady stream of reports of foreign-born New Zealand citizens engaging in money laundering, fraud and tax evasion, involving millions of dollars. New Zealand’s business reputation relies on the low levels of corruption established over many generations. This suffers when these citizens bring the corruption and dubious business practices prevalent in their homelands to ours. When convicted of such serious crimes, these citizens should have their citizenship revoked.

Craig Clark, Remuera.

Cook series

I’ve just come from listening to Sam Neill’s first episode on Captain James Cook. His factual references and interviews were excellent. However, he came adrift when he interpreted early European contact with Tahiti. The Polynesians were not asked whether they wished to return to pre-Christian religion and life. Nor did he try to explain what must be a mystery to many — why did so many Christian missionaries come to French Polynesia in that first century of contact. His Western pluralism and a Western confidence in the interpretation of others’ histories took the shine off this first episode for me.

Stephen Turner, Dairy Flat.

Close competition

It’s hard to believe but after 24 rounds in the NRL the top eight teams entering the playoffs are separated by only two points (basically an extra win). A competition set up so tight with salary caps, matches so electric and unforgiving, keeps us guessing right up to the Grand Final on who the eventual winner is going to be.

Congratulations to the Warriors for sneaking in there but they are going to have to play out of their skins to topple these devastating rugby league teams that Australia keeps producing.

Glenn Forsyth, Taupo.

Rugby not taxed

In a 2011 interview with Kim Hill Professor Peter Lineham of Massey University suggested rugby is not just a game, it is a religion. This comment is closer to the mark than one might think as churches and rugby have something in common — neither pay income tax. While the Rugby Union is calling for taxpayer support to keep its top players in New Zealand, let us not forget the NZR pays no income tax on the basis that the union is a promoter of amateur sport under the Income Tax Act. It is time that the amateur was separated from the professional.

In the past 15 years the union has pulled in net profits of $105.5 million which, if the union were liable to income tax, would have cost it $32.2m. Unfortunately, the union has also had some tough years and reported losses of $40m with tax benefits of $12m. Overall, it saved $20.3m in income tax on net surpluses of $65.8m.

Taxpayers are already subsidising professional sport in the guise of amateurism but, like Oliver, the professionals are now asking, “Please sir, may I have some more?” Dr Michael Gousmett, Rangiora.

Aussie banks

While he’s right that the Aussie banks extract nearly $5 billion in profit each year from the pockets of Kiwis and export it overseas, Shane Jones would be better off talking to his Cabinet colleagues about getting Kiwibank to take over when those banks close up shop. Even better would be if he convinced the Government to do its own banking with Kiwibank instead of with the Aussies.

But the really big win from Mr Jones’ talk with the Reserve Bank would be if he could convince it to become the sole source of funds for the Government, as the Social Credit Party suggests. That would free up the $4.7b in interest paid every year on government borrowing — taxpayer money that could be used for much needed spending on health, education and infrastructure.

The Government needs to act to put the money supply back into New Zealand hands rather than sniping at Aussie Banks from the sidelines. Who is in control here?

Scott Macarthur, Chatswood.

No second vote

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said a second vote to decide Britain’s exit from the European Union was not going to happen as “it would be a betrayal of democracy and trust”. What does this mean for democracy? In 2016 British voters decided to leave the European Union, a decision that would be similar to Alaska leaving the US — basically opting to go it alone because it might be better. The problem is that, like any “divorce”, it is messy, expensive and not everyone gets what they want except the lawyers.

There are many who now think it wasn’t a good move and that if it was revoted on the decision would be reversed. Hindsight is a great skill but not one that should lead to political changes or there may be a lot of changes around the world.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne.