Mandatory tests, strict quarantine

I feel so aggrieved that people’s lives and livelihoods have been further endangered by inept processes at our borders.

Bearing in mind that Covid carriers can be asymptomatic, all people coming into our country should undergo mandatory Covid testing before getting on a plane, on arrival into New Zealand and several times during quarantine.

Additionally, they must be placed into a very strict quarantine, whereby they are confined to a room until they have ‘passed’ at least three Covid tests, after which they may be permitted into a designated exercise area at a designated time, wearing N95 masks. Prior exercise can be carried out by use of exercise videos in their rooms.

We have all made huge personal and financial sacrifices during the past months. I suggest that people entering our country can make this sacrifice for the safety and ongoing financial security of our Team of 5 million for what is only two weeks of their lives.

Ella Harris, Riccarton

How soft?

How soft is NZ? Team NZ has sacrificed to get down to zero Covid-19 cases. Then we let into the country people who are Covid19 positive. Who is responsible?

Peter Gavin, Bishopdale

Greater good

Two women from the UK with Covid-19 are among about 1800 overseas arrivals a week that are taxing NZ authorities. The numbers repatriating were inevitable. However, it’s all about the quarantine being enforced (not trust-dependent, selfpoliced voluntary self-isolation, which is an invitation to breaches by less selfdisciplined, selfish individuals). Another must-happen is rigorous testing protocols on arrival, during and prior to release from quarantine (with result confirmed) and strict social distancing within the quarantine location. And no exceptions under any circumstances whatsoever. I don’t care how oppressive or concentration camp-like a regime that appears.

Quarantine means quarantine. It’s two weeks of an individual’s life, compared with putting a far greater number of the population at risk. And don’t give me any of that ‘‘It’s against my human rights to prevent my freedom of movement in my own country’’.

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Sometimes it’s a case of no matter how unpleasant the medicine tastes, it’s for the greater good, and in this instance, that is what matters.

Ken Hunter, Wigram

Dereliction of duty

The public outrage to the circumstances leading to the two new cases of Covid is totally understandable. The lack of common sense by some nameless official/ s saying ‘‘I know best…’’ and refusing to follow established protocols is worse than disgraceful. It is a dereliction of duty and a kick in the guts to the efforts and sacrifices made nationally over the past weeks. We are starting to look like a Third World country after all the initial international adulation.

But will these decision-makers be named? Will their immediate superiors or even the ministers step forward, stand honourably and offer their resignation? Who’s asking the questions?

Fat chance, if previous too-numerousto-mention dropped balls and sidesteps by either government and sector officials in the past are any indication.

Graham D Copp, Southshore (Abridged)

Let down

So, the Government has let two active cases of coronavirus into the country; what a kick in the guts for us.

After being locked down, living with all the restrictions through the levels, taking care, we thought we (the people of NZ) had it licked.

We started to relax, plan road trips to help the economy and felt we could look forward to things again.

We thought the borders were safe, we were lied to, told that everyone coming in is tested and quarantined for two weeks. Obviously that was and is not the case. To allow these women, untested, to travel from Auckland to Wellington is unbelievable, New Zealanders are not so naive to think that in an eight-hour road trip they didn’t stop.

The people of NZ have been let down massively by the Government.

D Grey, St Albans

New ministry

In response to David Clark’s recent performances in front of the media and Jacinda Ardern’s support for him in light of all the important decisions he’s been involved in ‘behind the scenes’ while in Dunedin, I can only conclude that he’s been appointed to a new, yet to be formally announced Ministry of Exceptions and Exemptions (‘MEE’’) staffed by unemployable lobbyists and lowly-ranked list MPs currently circulating around Wellington.

Murray Hendy, Burnside

Statue removal

Letters to The Press have focused on removing statues and renaming places associated with slavers and colonisers.

This overlooks the issue which ignited these protests, which was the death of

George Floyd while being arrested, and the broader issue of the treatment of people of colour by police in the United States. This issue resonates in New Zealand because of the disadvantages Ma¯ ori face in various aspects of their lives, particularly in relation to policing and treatment within the justice system. Ma¯ ori are grossly overrepresented in prisons and are likely to have worse outcomes in the justice system. This in part is because their communities are more intensively policed than others and to attitudes towards Ma¯ ori generally.

Tearing down statues will not correct these inequities. If there is systemic racism in New Zealand society, and the evidence of inequality and disadvantage suggests that there is, it must be dealt with head-on with institutional and attitudinal changes. There are current truths that need to be faced about how people are treated in this society, as well as the actions of our forebears.

Roy Myers, Amberley (Abridged)

Change the name

I fully support the renaming of the Otago town with the name of shameful infamy. Oliver Cromwell was an evil man who was responsible for a lot of misery in the 17th century; genocide in Ireland, mass killings in England, a rule that would make the Taliban blush, and most of all the murder of King Charles the first!

He was not a humane man to anyone whose opinion differed from his own. The only ‘reforming’ he did was by a military coup. Cromwell, once he gained power, then went on to do everything he’d accused the king of doing.

This is not a story of democracy, Cromwell was a power-hungry thug who should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Jennifer Isle, Bishopdale

Road changes

The council’s decision to proceed with changes to the Riccarton/Ilam/Middleton Rd intersection, as in the original proposal, apparently ignores the advice of users, local residents and the community board.

The danger of the intersection is acknowledged. But, as pointed out in numerous submissions, the plan which has been approved is likely to have significant perverse consequences for residents and local school and university traffic.

None of these seem to have been addressed.

Neither has any satisfactory explanation been given of why other options, including the community board’s amendment relating to phasing of lights, are unworkable.

I note that three councillors voted against the proposal. This is disappointing decision-making.

Jan Cameron, Upper Riccarton