Asimple oath would do the job Inaction on inquests
The procedures for installing our new Parliament must be one of the more bizarre examples of mandated hypocrisy.
In order to take their places as our representatives, duly elected Ma¯ori nationalists and Kiwi republicans are required to swear allegiance to the relics of a foreign European dynasty. Although we do not have a state church or religion in this country, these figureheads are consecrated to their office by the senior bishops of a foreign state church on the other side of the world.
Our ceremony also involves Christians swearing loyalty upon the Bible in contradiction to Christ’s specific instructions recorded in Matthew and James. And in our modern secular democracy, those of other faiths are expected to swear on holy texts relevant to their particular beliefs.
The time has surely come to follow Christ’s very simple and inclusive advice to ‘‘Swear not at all. Neither by heaven nor by earth . . but let your ‘No’ mean no and your ‘Yes’ mean yes.’’ (What a difference that would make to politics!)
We could replace all the medieval mumbo jumbo with a simple ‘‘I, [name], solemnly and sincerely declare that I will faithfully and truly serve the Parliament and people of Aotearoa/NZ’’, which is surely what they are there for. This should give offence to no-one.
Graeme Pirie, Raumati [abridged]
Foster’s priorities
My plea to Wellington Mayor Andy Foster is simple. Can he please spend less time setting up tents to protest decisions his council has made, and instead spend more time:
■ Fixing the infrastructure of the city so we no longer have to pump raw sewage into the harbour.
Arranging for the vomit in Courtenay Place to be cleaned up so we no longer have to be embarrassed by our city.
Pressuring police and the Government to sort out the gang presence in the CBD so it is safe to live, work and conduct business.
Martin Sawyers, Khandallah
Water before vanity
From $144m water meters can save Wellington (Nov 23), it appears that the prospect of water metering by stealth is not so stealthy any more.
While the ostensible reason of detecting leaks through water metering might make sense, it would be amatter of serious concern if Wellington City Council viewed charging for residential water supply as a new source of revenue, and then started charging for residential water supply.
If Wellington Water is concerned about leakages, it should set an example by ensuring that its own pipes are free of leaks before it even thinks of usingwater metering as a first step towards charging for residential water.
As councillor Fleur Fitzsimons has rightly pointed out, Wellington Water has no mandate from the council to start planning for residential water metering. Neither, if Imay add, does council have such amandate from residents.
We’ve been paying rates for the council to provide core services – without having to pay twice thanks to council’s inability to manage its finances and predilection
Anand Kochunny, Karori
Time for a rebrand
Now that our sewerage pipes are gushing waste at the rate of over 2000 breaches per annum, perhaps we should be looking at a rebrand of the capital. We are no longer the ‘‘coolest little capital’’, nor are we exactly ‘‘absolutely positively’’ Wellington. I would suggest: ‘‘Wellington . . . it’s a little bit sh..’’.
Tony Jansen, Thorndon
Why are the hearings of coronial inquests not held until two or more years from the date of the death of the deceased person?
Why does our government not appoint 30 temporary coroners made up of experienced litigators who shall remain until this unacceptable delay is obliterated?
Moreover, why are the coroner’s recommendations as mandated by our Coroners Act to successive governments often completely ignored?
Furthermore, the many grieving families cannot get closure and move on with their lives until the coroner’s verdict is recorded. Can our minister of justice quickly act on these matters?
Brian Collins, Petone