Kiwibank’s disappointing move
Beware of airport parking
Yet another New Zealandowned Kiwibank branch closure in the Wellington area (MPs protest bank closures, Nov 22). Is the beginning of a slippery slope?
I am visually impaired and prefer to speak to a bank worker, rather than fumble my way on an ATM machine.
Yes, a lot of people are now banking online. But with an ageing population and many more retirement villages in the Johnsonville and Petone areas, has any thought been given to the elderly who are not computer-literate, and are visually or physically impaired.
Kiwibank is not serving the community, which is very disappointing.
Helen Henkes, Whitby The Dominion Post is subject to the NZ Media Council. Complaints must be directed to editor@dompost .co.nz. If the complainant is unsatisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council, PO Box 10-879, Wellington, 6143 or info@media council.org.nz. Further details at presscouncil.org.nz Email: letters@ dompost.co.nz No attachments. Write: Letters to the Editor, PO Box 1297, Wellington, 6040. Letters must include the writer’s full name, home address and daytime phone number. Letters should not exceed 200 words and must be exclusive. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. Readers should be advised that the booking system for long-term parking at Wellington Airport will debit the full price of the booked stay, even if you leave early.
Recently I had to return for a family medical emergency, cutting short an eight-day stay after two days. The airport gave no refund, even on compassionate grounds, leaving me to pay $90 for a two-day stay. Its response was I should have taken out insurance. No wonder people prefer the side streets.
I will never pre-book again. It’s potentially too expensive and there is certainly no advice to take out insurance when you pay for a booking.
Brian Jones, Manor Park
Staggering gun toll
With the United States population about 70 times that of New Zealand, its toll from gun deaths, of 37,000 to New Zealand’s 10, is staggering.
While the redneck NRA, and president of the US, continue harping on about their constitutional right to bear arms (and no doubt soon for the right to arm bears), we should continue tightening our gun rules.
PS: Isn’t it just a wee bit odd that the US has a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives? Are they really in the same league? Rob Buchanan, Kerikeri
Officials’ advice
The handling of immigration decisions certainly needs attention (Ministers need experts’ advice, Letters, Nov 23).
I suggest that officials avoid giving advice because the exercise of patronage in matters of immigration has been treasured by all governments for at least the last 18 years.
Politicians alone like to know the amount of donations given and promised to their party by an applicant.
Politicians alone like to control the sale of large tracts of our land to wealthy foreigners.
A judgment of the value of knowledge held by an incoming overseas agent is a purely political decision.
After nine wasted years in opposition, it is hard to forgive Iain Lees-Galloway for not proposing a fundamental change to such a system. I hope that he has learned his lesson and that he now does so. Michael Gibson, Northland