Rebuilding economy

RESPECTED scientists have said vaccination development for Covid19, and distribution, will extend well into 2021 and we can only hope for 50% immunity, which means at the most only partial border opening here.

Yet both Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins announced in the debates that they had no Plan B should the impacts of the virus persist.

This seems to me whistling in the dark and an abdication of duty, especially since New Zealand depends so much on people crossing the border; that is tourists, international students, immigrants and seasonal workers.

There were no brilliant ideas forthcoming either to cope with, or take advantage of, the situation we find ourselves in other than to use our pristine reputation to plug New Zealand products.

We depend on our leaders to lead. Perhaps I can offer some talking points: a drive for selfsufficiency, promotion of more outdoor activity as an alternative to consumption as a pastime, virtual tourism, luring the population to rural areas to ensure labour at critical harvesting times, thinking seriously about a universal income.

Do we need to convene a public forum to reimagine our economy to survive and get over our faltering leaders?

Keith Burgess

Christchurch