Reti should be applauding the drop in flu cases

The National Party health spokesperson has criticised the Hawke’s Bay Health Board for a decline in flu vaccinations compared with previous years (20.9.21). If Shane Reti and other politicians of his kind kept up to date with world news he would be aware that the number of cases of flu worldwide has dropped to the lowest ever.

Whatever precautions people are taking to restrict transmission of the Covid virus, these are proving even more effective in reducing the transmission of the flu virus.

Rather than being critical of the Government and the health authorities, Mr Reti should be applauding both for having killed two birds with one stone.

The Opposition are part of Parliament and should be using their talents to collaborate with the Government to unite the country to work for the good of all.

A Williams

Napier

Public ownership

New Zealand taxpayers have paid through multiple generations for the public infrastructure in New Zealand . The replacement value of this infrastructure is huge — many times more than $10,000 per household. In the Three Waters discussion there have been suggestions that consolidating water infrastructure could result in the sale of water assets which in fact is not proposed by the government. In the article it is noted that dividends to Unison customers is low at 1.7 per cent per annum.

Publicly owned monopoly assets should remain in public ownership. Selling monopoly assets to a private entity is irresponsible and not in the long term interests of the users of the assets since any private entity is driven by the profit motive rather than providing excellent service at low cost to users. Public monopoly assets have been sold in New Zealand to the detriment of the interests of the New Zealand public. I suggest that all talk of distributing shares in Unison and listing on the exchange should cease.

John Warren

Napier

Housing land needed

Having lived in Waipawa and

Waipukurau, Central Hawke’s Bay certainly does not have a shortage of rural land. How can a proposed housing development “destroy” the landscape, there is so much of it!

Surely the proposed housing development for 300 homes would make a difference, especially to a shortage of housing in the area suggested. Ongaonga and Tikokino from what I have seen are such quiet backwater towns, so perhaps more facilities and shops, etc, would follow.

New Zealand is definitely growing and there are many new subdivisions

popping up in Hastings and Napier now, but the cost of these sections are extremely expensive whereas usually the rural sections are more affordable. Central Hawke’s Bay needs to expand in terms of housing, so let the developers continue.

Susan Garner

Napier

In praise of Plunket nurses

Re Plunket nurses, particularly Joan Syme: Joan you were my eldest child’s Plunket nurse way back in the early 80s. He will be 40 this December. You were wonderful, warm, caring, knowledgeable and a wonderful woman. All round Plunket nurses being able to go to mum and bub at home was a great thing.

Claire Makirere

Hastings