Guy Body’s view
Paris setting example we should be following
If the world’s most visited city, Paris, has plans to eliminate gas and diesel- fuelled cars by 2030 then maybe our new government can set some ambitious targets such as ridding the CBDs of toxic gas- emitting vehicles?
The French capital i s de- plaguing itself of choking air pollution with cars older than 20 years old banned from the city centre. There are also car- free zones, and even entirely car- free days when the smog gets particularly bad.
Paris will host the Summer encouraged to devour the sweet stuff?
Tax sugar like we tax cigarettes and help prevent the healthcare and social costs involved in the absurd and dangerous overconsumption of sugar. Instead of jubilation there is doom and gloom at the start of this Government for “change”. In their first speeches after Winston’s big announcement, both Winston and Jacinda anticipated a slower economy. I’m sure reducing net migration by around 30,000 is a very achievable goal because thousands of Kiwis will now be fleeing to Australia.
Generally gregarious, poor Kelvin Davis standing behind Jacinda didn’t look like a happy camper at the prospect of giving up the Deputy Prime Minister post.
Relentless positivity is the last thing that this coalition is exuding. The best we can hope is that this new Government does not become Winston’s Titanic, sinking every day and taking us all down with it. Some astute observers might be tempted to conjecture that the exhausted National team of old men didn’t try too hard with Winston because they were tired of churning out evasive answers between elections. Good riddance. Olympic Games in 2024, and was already considering an end to diesel cars by that date.
NZ must start reducing its enormous greenhouse gases now.
The day of silent, electric, emission- free vehicles is looming, and NZ can no longer be a lagger.
A quick word
Contrary to Mike Groves’ ( Thursday Oct 19) dismay that NZ has lost production of two highly coloured and chemically flavoured “lollies” it is far better they go over the ditch and let’s get NZ selling confectionery that has only pure natural ingredients, low white sugar and no colouring, flavouring and preservative so kiwi kids get their taste buds back, save their teeth and confront early asthma and other debilities. Losing production of such morsels as dark almond chocolate, though, would be a different kettle o’ fish. Our new Prime Minister has promised to rule for all New Zealanders. It is to be hoped that she does not revert to the ethnic favouritism that National increasingly promoted. Messrs Prebble, Hosking and anyone else who didn’t get their own way. MMP won, you lost. Cope. It was certainly a most unusual event to see the leader of the party that received 7.2% of the vote single- handedly announce on prime TV that he had been able to form a government, being a coalition of the losers. The funny piece about Kiwis being poor in bed is based upon reports by promiscuous people, who practise casual sex. Sex is meant to be for married couples, who only ever experience it with each other. Then there is true intimacy, meaningful surrender, genuine relationship and deep satisfaction. My dictionary defines democracy as “a government elected by the people”. Because that does not fit the current situation, I suggest we use the word “Peteocracy” to describe the manner in which a government was thrust upon the people of New Zealand. Once again, the Herald describes people in their 50s or 60s as “elderly”. Come on, most of us in that age bracket are still working . . . For a little island nation, New Zealand makes a lot of noise on the world stage. From sitting on the throne of rugby, to swanning off with the most prestigious sailing trophy, to demonstrating how democracy thrives, New Zealand should revel in the global headlines. Some credit should be given to Andrew Little. At a crucial time he put his party before personal gain and stood aside with dignity.