NZ’s ‘urgent’ need for male suicide support

IT’S good to hear that the new Labourled Government intends taking the issue of suicide prevention seriously. Incoming Health Minister David Clark deserves kudos for his stated commitment to tackling the problem (ODT, 13.11.17), but it appears he might be overlooking one very important point.

Poverty and colonisation, the two specific contributing factors that Dr Clark acknowledges, should undoubtedly come under consideration in a wideranging mental health inquiry. But what the minister doesn’t mention is the fact that, according to official statistics, 75% of suicide victims in New Zealand are male. This glaringly obvious gender imbalance suggests an urgent need for specialised support for men and boys.

The question of what’s going wrong for males in New Zealand society should be one of the main issues to be considered in the inquiry, and the rollout of the proposed malefocused solutions should be accorded high priority in any suicideprevention strategy. A failure to do so will only serve to further entrench the alienation and marginalisation of vulnerable males. Duncan Eddy

Purakaunui

Accept some palm oil

YOUR writer Melanie Vivian quite rightly raises concerns about the impact of the palm oil industry in Sumatra on the population of orangutans (ODT, 14.11.17). Last August we spent time with friends in Malaysia who produce palmoil kernel,which is used in feeding dairy cattle in New Zealand.

Anyone who has flown over Malaysia will observe that the country is one huge palmoil plantation. Palmoil kernel is a valuable byproduct of the oil industry. Our friend Dr Rahman was at pains to explain the situation in his country. The palm oil sequesters a large amount of carbon from the atmosphere. The fronds are cut to harvest the nut that contain the oil and are left to decompose.

The fact is the palmoil industry emerged to replace the Malaysian rubber industry. The ecosystem was changed more than 80 years ago. If enough tourists filled the economic gap the habitat might revert.

A blanket ban on palmoil kernel would hurt industry in both of our countries. If people want to continue to enjoy consumer items, then export and import will always be a necessity. David George

Cromwell

Brilliant, fabulous plan

THE vision articulated by Damien van Brandenburg and Ian Taylor (ODT,

11.11.17) is brilliant. Let’s take this further. Add a marine mammal sanctuary along our coast and Dunedin will become a nature, wildlife, tourist and research mecca. Well done Damien and Ian.

Stuart Mathieson

Palmerston

THE waterfront development plan is fabulous. Solving both the fivestar hotel problem and the Steamer Basin is a stroke of genius. Congratulations to all involved.

Let’s hope we can pay for it and that there aren’t too many knockers.

I’m 67 now; this is an incentive for me to live to 97 to see the outcome.

Is there anywhere we can view the models/plans? Rex Moore

East Taieri

[Architect Damien van Brandenburg says the intention is to make the plans more publicly available in the next few weeks. — Ed] Correspondents are reminded that we require letters submitted for publication to be no longer than 150 words. Many received recently have been well in excess of that length and have had to be ‘‘abridged’’ or not selected for publication. Letters should also include a daytime contact phone number, as well as a street address. This includes email letters. — Editor