A fast way to obesity

I’m not sure whether Kiwis should be happy or sad to read that yet another US fast food outlet is coming to enrich our shores (Taco Bell to open in NZ, Nov 12).

This follows the much-anticipated launch of Krispy Creme Donuts, which has likely added centimetres to the waist line (not to mention several kilograms) of those who have visited its fine establishment.

Both these establishments and those that preceded them have, at least in part, been responsible for growing obesity in New Zealand, and increased the pressure on our district health boards, which struggle to deal with an epidemic of obesity-related illnesses.

One wonders if and when the government will examine the cost/risk of fast food outlets, and then have the courage to dissuade responsible corporations from continuing to jeopardise the health of Kiwis.

Geoffrey Horne, Roseneath

Incommunicative cops

On Whareroa Beach at the weekend, I picked up a piece of electronic gadgetry which looked expensive and, remarkably, seemed to be in working order despite exposure to the sea. But it gave no clue to its ownership.

I drove to the nearest police station, in Paraparaumu, to hand it in. Bad move. The station is closed at weekends.

To avoid another wasted journey to the police station on Monday, I phoned first. Another bad move. For 20 minutes, I heard nothing more than disagreeable music, punctuated at regular intervals by a programmed message which encouraged me (more or less) to be patient – the call would be answered soon. But the voice did suggest I could try communicating via the internet.

Wearied by the phone experience, eventually I tried the internet option and spent a bit more time navigating through the police website before finding how to leave a message. But filling in the electronic form (I was advised) would take 10 minutes.

Thanks, but no thanks. The ranger’s office in Queen Elizabeth Park was much closer and it was open. The staff were willing to chat with a member of the public, too. I have left the gadget in their care.

Bob Edlin, Pa¯ uatahanui

Way to help our children

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is calling for Oranga Tamariki to be closed down, saying the government has never done a

good job of caring for children.

I too would like to see Oranga Tamariki close up shop, but not for the reasons she puts forward. All citizens are protected by the law, by the government and its agents and as such it is the ultimate responsibility of the state to protect the children of our nation, no matter their race/culture.

To abandon this role is to abandon the future of our nation. Merepeka is right, we can do better, but surely closing Oranga Tamariki is not the solution. Oranga Tamariki should learn from its mistakes and work alongside families to help them overcome their problems.

Painting Oranga Tamariki as the enemy is to misunderstand the problem. Bad parenting, neglect, abuse, drug addiction are problems that Oranga Tamariki deals with every day. It has not created this problem, but is somehow meant to solve it. We are asking too much and getting only more problems.

If Ma¯ ori can work alongside their fellow countrymen to improve the problems that affect our children, we would all be the better for it.

The way to lessen the need for Oranga Tamariki is to invest in the families in which children live, invest in the communities in which they grow up. Brent Pierson, Kingston [abridged]

Population pressures

I agree with Duncan Garner (Nov 2) – it’s time New Zealanders took a proper, serious look at what our population and immigration objectives should be. We need to think about what sort of country

we want in the long term, and not be driven by vested interests.

The population will soon reach 5 million, largely driven in recent times by high levels of immigration. Per capita we have one of the highest immigration rates in the world. The Pew Research Centre estimates that in 2017 some 23 per cent of our population was born elsewhere (by comparison, the figure for the US is 14 per cent, for UK 14 per cent, and for Germany 15 per cent).

Our annual immigration rates continue at over 50,000 net per year . A small New Zealand city every year. No wonder we have housing, infrastructure and social/health service problems.

We need a rational and open debate on what our long-term policy as a country should be. Let’s start by thinking about what really benefits New Zealanders economically and socially – for example, I don’t think it is importing low-wage labour. Rather, we need a much smaller number of skilled migrants who will add to our economic and social wealth. Stuart Macdonald, Wellington

We’re all accountable

Simon Upton’ s report accurately describes the lack of reliable data collection on the state of our environment (NZ ‘flying blind’ on environment, Nov 7).

What it doesn’t explore is why successive administrations have been reluctant to grapple with this problem.

I think it has been driven by the ideology of more freedom, smaller government, less regulation and lower taxes. If the data had been collected the whole of the country would have been obliged to confront the crisis, take action and pay the bill.

However, most of us complacent Kiwis prefer to pull our heads under our nice warm blankets and deny we have any problems. This is not only the government’s fault and responsibility. We should accept we are all accountable. Harvey Daniel, Island Bay

NZTA decisions

NZTA has said its road safety enhancements are working and quotes figures to prove it.

Among the safety issues it mentioned was the newly completed Ka¯ piti expressway and median barriers. It is true median rope barriers will prevent head-on collisions, but it is equally true that on the expressway cars can pass and be passed at any chosen time.

So how does putting the next section of the expressway – O¯ taki to north of Levin – on the back-burner for 10 years and reducing it to just another two-lane highway enhance safety improvements? John Martin, Manakau

Pleasing minorities

Why Justin Lester won or lost the mayoralty will be subject to detailed analysis by his and Andy Foster’s supporters. The result was extremely close and a multitude of factors may have affected the balance. Lester’s chief of staff highlighted Lester’s good work (Nov 12). Was it his fault this wasn’t recognised?

A trend among liberal, Left-leaning, Labour and Green politicians at national level is to try to please minorities, leading to special interest lobby groups actively promoting their causes.

The operation of a city is dependent on the election of councillors who listen to the needs of the voters in their wards and support local, majority interests.

The promotion of Lambton Quay light rail ahead of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel is obviously a central government issue for the Green Party. The adoption of Ma¯ ori language policy is the same for the Labour Party. Adverse reaction by motorists and non-Ma¯ ori to these stances could reflect across all ratepayers and has been seen as not in their best interests.

Lester can relax. Foster’s introduction of discussion about a flag has set him up as a one-term mayor.

Mike Williams, Tawa

Wrong priority

What on earth is Nicola Young thinking about! Restoring Wellingtonians’ sense of pride and dignity with an irrelevant flag (Nov 12)? Take your head out of the sand, Nicola. Our sense of pride in Wellington will only return when the Civic Square is brought back to life – and you can start with the library.

Pippa Christmas, Kelburn