Queenstown must cater to everyone

It is great to see that the Queenstown hospitality industry is confident that the high-end tourists will shortly be returning and so continue to develop expensive accommodation options. However, Queenstown may need to be careful that it does not price out their loyal, New Zealand customers.

We visit Queenstown at least once a year and base ourselves in budget accommodation so that we can spend money in the local restaurants and cafes and on the many activities available. We may not be spending hundreds of dollars per night on a bed but over the years we have put thousands of dollars into a vast range of local businesses.

This summer, with the sad closure of the YHAs and many other backpackers, the only budget option was to camp. Soon even this option is to be removed to make way for expensive hotels. In future we will be looking at other South Island destinations.

Furthermore, the same hospitality industry that is focusing on big-spending tourists is also desperate for backpackers to flood back and work in their establishments. But if there are no accommodation options, these budget travellers may also bypass Queenstown.

Katie Gormley, St Heliers

Mental health needs

Surely it is time for Andrew Little to own up to the fact the Government got it wrong.

According to Little, after spending $1.9 billion on mental health we now have mental health practitioners attached to 650 general practices throughout the country. However, when it comes to the hospitals we are still short of mental health staff on all levels to deal with the large number of cases, often urgent, that are being referred to them.

It would appear those in need can be waiting for weeks before they are seen.

And who does Little blame but National, as you would expect.

From my perspective, living in Auckland with two million people, who have spent an excessive amount of time locked down, 650 general practices with mental health practitioners attached to them is not something that I would want to brag about and surely falls short of the numbers required to help those with mental health needs. And that doesn’t even account for the rest of New Zealand.

Robin Harrison, Takapuna

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