No room at the inn Jobs for Kiwis Paradox can be modelled
I’m not a religious person, though I did go to a Catholic primary school. There I can remember learning a story about a
The 630 jobs employers can’t find New Zealanders to fill (Nov 25), is cause for concern. As a nation, we need to ask ourselves if we really want to rely on temporary immigrant labour to do jobs it seems we don’t want.
This is really a race to the bottom. Do we want to be like some Middle Eastern countries, where the majority of work is done by temporary migrants, and the locals sit around doing very little?
Given the majority Government, should we expect the labour market to be reformed so that employment is available only toNew Zealanders? With 151, 000 out of work, the vacancieswould be easily filled. Certainly there would be some short-term pain, but the long-term gain would be a rebalancing of society with everyone having a job and making a reasonable living.
The social benefits would be very significant, and the pain short-lived. It’s a pity our short electoral cycle will likely get in the way of such forward thinking. Geoffrey Horne, Roseneath
In response to Ian Wallis (Letters, Nov 23) I amconfident thatmy recent article ( Downs, Thomson and a second Mt Vic tunnel, Nov 18) is relevant in Wellington, making a second Mt Victoria tunnel very doubtful. The exception would be a tunnel for buses, walking and cycling only.
I presented a peer-reviewed paper on this topic in 2007, ‘‘The paradox of congestion’’, (IPENZ Transportation Group Conference, Tauranga).
The paper studied some 40 cities and showed that Wellington is in the area (of a diagram) where the effect is strongest, althoughAuckland andChristchurch were worse.
Another indication of trouble in Wellingtonwas the extent of inner-city parking. In 1992 it was greater than any American city studied, at 950 CBD spaces per 1000 jobs.
A likely explanation of the differences between Ian and me is in my paper:
Traffic modelling often fails to demonstrate the Downs-Thomson paradox.
The paradox is difficult to observe directly, although an effective method is now available.
The Downs-Thomson effect can be modelled. This was done in Seoul before demolishing a six-kilometre highway along the Cheonggyecheon River, carrying 160,000 vehicles a day, in 2005. Kerry Wood, Khandallah
Enriching experience
I recently applied in person for my NZ superannuation. It was also my first time in a Work and Income office.
For someone who has not had the experience of walking into such an office, it certainly was an eye-opener.
Iwas greeted with a smile and shown to a special comfy chair reserved for those of more mature years. Shortly after, Iwas directed to the charming lady whomade sense of all the necessary paperwork.
While all this was happening the office staff looked quite frantic, and had to put up with one of their clients yelling out that they wanted a new washing machine, allwhile theworkers soldiered on.
I came away from this new experience with a high regard for the staff at Work and Income. It occurred to me that so many government workers at the sharp end only ever get negative media coverage and disparaging remarks.
My first-hand encounter was a very constructivemeeting indeed, enriching in so many ways.
Stephen Edlin, Miramar