Covid-19: Does Dr Reti agree with his leader?

Brian Gould’s article on pandemic political point scoring (July 1) is factually correct and underscores a failing of our party political system. We now have the new National leader Todd Muller demanding that we must reopen our borders immediately despite the fact that, worldwide, the Covid-19 pandemic is increasing dramatically along with the number of active cases crossing our border. Perhaps our local MP, Dr Shane Reti, who states we are “working together”, in his prolific advertising, can utilise some of this space to explain if he agrees with the demands expressed by his leader on reopening our borders now. Being a doctor he should understand the risks and dangers involved in reintroducing Covid-19 into our community if this is done. I would have thought that he, at this stage, would disagree with his leader. Please enlighten me.

David F Little

Whanga¯ rei Share the power Geoff Parker (Letters, June 29) credits success in our society to “quality of character”. Indeed, historical accounts of early contact with Ma¯ ori attest to their quality of character, describing “so fine a race of people . . . with great muscular strength” and men who were “very fond of and kind to their children”, who “never beat them and do not allow anyone else to beat them”. Ma¯ ori certainly made the most of the opportunities that arose, embracing the economics of running trade ships to Sydney, with great success, and with literacy rates that were, at one point, higher than that of the settler population.

To understand how and why this changed, it is a shame Mr Parker only looks as far back to the 1970s for legislation that might benefit one race over another. It was in 1841 that the first of so many British colonial, and New Zealand government, laws were enacted that systematically stripped Ma¯ ori of an economic base – land. By 1975, Ma¯ ori were left with a mere 1.2 million hectares of land in their possession – from a total of 27m ha.

This land dispossession, along with the undermining of culture, and legal and economic disadvantage spanning generations, was coupled with societal discrimination and even segregation, where Ma¯ ori were likely to be refused accommodation, employment, use of amenities, a seat among Pa¯ keha¯ at the cinema or even a pint of beer at the pub. Pa¯keha¯ benefited from the economic wealth, housing schemes and government support Ma¯ ori were denied.

It may surprise some Pa¯keha¯ to learn that their position in our society may not have come from their own, or their ancestors’, superior “character”, but rather at the expense of Ma¯ ori success. Perhaps it is time to relinquish OUR unreal sense of entitlement and be okay with sharing the power and wealth. After all, what is good for Ma¯ ori has to be good for us all. Cirran Payne

Tikipunga Tanks the answer

I find it hard to believe that councils in many parts of New Zealand are bemoaning the lack of water due to lower-than-usual rainfall. For goodness sake, the situation is only going to get worse as the world heats up, so taking for example, more water from the Waikato River by Auckland is not the answer. Why is it councils are so ridiculously short-sighted? We need to be subsidising the installation of water tanks in urban areas that would address not only the lack of water but doubly deal with the stormwater situation at the same time. The tanks could be linked to the washing machine water and toilets with a very easy modification of existing homes and must become a requirement in new builds. The subsidy could be instigated by central government and/or councils and could be

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underway almost instantly. We really need to see more forward thinking by these organisations tasked with ensuring communities function well. When did common sense leave us? Or is it that councils are afraid of a drop in their revenue for water and people possibly being able to live off-grid? G. Thompson

Hikurangi