Food lessons to take away

Fast from fast food nearly over (April 22) indicated that all the global mega takeaway companies are able to get back to business to supply takeaways under Covid-19 alert level three.

One of the things about being under lockdown is how some have had to learn to really look in their pantries, using up items nearing their expiry dates, even learning to cook, and teaching our kids how to as well. Watching movies from 20-30 years ago, a favourite pastime during lockdown, I am also struck by how little obesity there was compared to now. The difference? Fast foods, higher fats, salts and sugar intake.

So, looking at this article, my initial thought was ‘‘hello heart disease, diabetes, cancer’’, and myriad other diseases caused by these foodstuffs. I worked in health promotion for years, and saw the impact of these illnessinducing foods across our society.

Maybe now is a good time to take these out of our national dietary vernacular.

These huge corporations don’t support our overburdened health system, they just add to it. Yes, they provide employment, but let’s think more smartly.

Let’s support local restaurants, cafes, in their endeavours to recover from this financial destruction to their businesses, and lower our risk of disease at the same time.

Sharon Greally, Mt Victoria

There has been an oft-expressed and confusing view that NZ needs to eliminate the Covid-19 virus, not eradicate it. Unfortunately, in English, these two terms are practically equivalent in the sense of getting rid of something, and I use the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary as my authority.

If we are to suppress the effects of the virus by reducing its prevalence in the population and, as a means of doing so, testing as many people as possible to obtain statistically and epidemiologicallyuseful data, then we are managing or

controlling the virus, but in no way are we removing it from the country. In fact, as with many endemic human disease organisms, there is variability among individual immune systems, and, consequently, a range of susceptibility to disease.

Given these factors, chances are the virus will remain circulating forever, as do many other viruses. Indeed, once travel restrictions are lifted, and unless every visitor is tested at the border and/ or quarantined before being let in (and treated if positive for virus), then more virus will enter because it is now permanently and globally prevalent. Elimination/eradication is an ideal, but an impossibility.

Allen Heath, Woburn

Emergency powers are OK for perhaps a couple of seven-day periods, but the continued suspension of Parliament is totally unacceptable. With today’s electronic wizardry there is no reason why Parliament could not resume and also respect social distancing protocols.

What has developed is a dictatorship comprising the prime minister, health officials and the commissioner of police. Such governance is tantamount to a police state. The official encouragement to nark on fellow citizens is despicable and is reminiscent of the requirements of the East Germans before the wall coming down. We are supposed to be a parliamentary democracy. Let’s return to it forthwith.

Keith Jefferies, Raumati South

New Zealand is a small economy and, as the lack of co-ordination capacity for Covid-19 follow-up has proved, we need to rethink other structures.

As an old supporter of the Ministry of Works style of central co-ordination, I again see the need for some central oversight. There are national companies (some spinoffs from the deconstructed Ministry of Works) prominent in our economy, but each is focused on its own survival and its own agendas. Add to the mix local authorities keen to present wants ahead of needs. The skill sets can come from the organisations currently in the industries but the structure needs to be overview rather than self-serving.

We have the National Infrastructure Advisory Board with its 30-year Infrastructure Plan, the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, but none is structured to help prioritise, co-ordinate and supervise the ‘‘shovel ready’’ projects.

Maybe a Ministry of Works overview structure will serve us better than the companies seeking to carve out their own niche.

Eddie Dickson, Paraparaumu [abridged]

During this present lockdown, where are people expected to get assistance for minor health problems? I recently tried to get an appointment at my local medical centre only to be told it wasn’t allowing face-to-face consults and probably won’t under level three.

I pointed out that I had no symptoms of

Covid-19 and would have taken any necessary tests, but to no avail.

I know that people with non-lifethreatening injuries or health issues can turn up at Wellington Hospital and, after a few basic questions, they will be seen. Medical centres are probably only following Government instructions but isn’t it time common sense prevailed?

There are predictions doctors will be inundated when we reach level two but they are under-utilised at present. Can’t we work out some sort of middle ground? Neil D. McCabe, Strathmore

As we face a financial crisis there is another focus beyond Covid-19. The city is crying out for considered cost prioritisation, real job creation, realistic considered action and astute spending efficiency.

Damian George’s reporting and opinion writing highlight what Wellington is vitally concerned about.

Though elected on a narrow ward and a party ticket, new councillors must put the whole city first. There is a lack of judicious decision-making, economic expertise and policy experience. Clinging to ‘‘nice to have’’ social projects is predetermined, not progressive, when bloc agendas run counter to the city’s greater good.

Why does Fleur Fitzsimons so frequently speak out on council issues? Is this dissent or being aspirational beyond the council? Does Rebecca Matthews offer our city anything other than a predictable stance and being invisible in her ward? What business expertise is Tamatha Paul calling on when moving amendments? Is she, and Teri O’Neill, objectively addressing real Wellington issues or blocsinging from a scripted songbook ?

Serving us as a local councillor is an enlightened commitment to the city, not inflicting on the city by grandstanding. These inhibiting agendas must be overcome on the council or the ‘‘idiot’’ label will stick.

Murray Jaspers, Wellington [abridged]

Can anyone at the Wellington City Council please explain why Hutt City Council is still doing normal glass recycling but WCC isn’t? Be good to actually get a response if possible. Felicity Marwick, Miramar