Say yes to Covid vaccine

Please say yes to the Covid-19 vaccine. My brother and I caught the polio virus in 1950.

There was no vaccine anywhere in the world at that time. Polio damaged us for life.

Google “post-polio syndrome” and horrifyingly, some of the symptoms of “Long Covid” are similar, including pain, chronic fatigue and neurological dysfunction.

Please protect yourself and others. Once the borders open, you will be exposed and could die, or worse, be disabled for life. Or are you expecting those who have had the vaccine to protect you?

The UK and Brazil went for “herd immunity” and look how that has turned out.

In 2020 everyone in New Zealand made sacrifices to keep fellow citizens safe. Don’t fall at the last hurdle. Let’s honour those who have died by saying yes to the vaccine.

Then you can be confident that you can go anywhere and see anyone (including family in hospitals and rest homes), get educated, get or keep a job, run your business, attend events and travel freely.

I was not so lucky with a virus in 1950. Give me a hand if you see me around town with my walker.

MARY STELLA TAYLOR

Durie Hill

Who pays?

I am surprised to see the prominence given to the Whanganui Velodrome project in the district council LongTerm Plan consultation document.

I suspect there has been some concerted lobbying by velodrome supporters.

The preferred Option 2 describes a cost of $20 million equating to an annual residential rates increase of $54.

Whanganui ratepayers should be

aware this figure is an estimate and with the current increases in building costs will need to be revised – upwards.

Cycling is a great pursuit whether cycling to school or work, to an event or simply for a pleasant ride. And cycling as a sport is popular across the globe.

But the velodrome project and its operational costs should be financed by the cycling fraternity and associated supporters together with the yet-tobe confirmed external funding as

described in the consultation document.

Maybe a $20m social housing project incorporating a nationwide design competition (more national prominence for Whanganui) would be a better project to pursue.

TREVOR STRATTON

Whanganui

Questioning rates

So Horizons is advising us that there is an impending 8 per cent rates increase about to take place.

The way I see it, with all the new subdivisions and new houses being built in Whanganui, this would equate to quite a substantial increase in rates collection already in the district.

More houses equal more rates. What are they doing with that money, building an even bigger empire?

It seems their attitude is that we the ratepayers are a captured audience with no say in the matter regarding these proposed increases.

Do your sums and I think you will find their bounty has increased as the Whanganui district becomes more popular and more populated.

I for one am questioning the need for such a large increase.

G SIMPSON Whanganui East