Cape Town water an omen

The Focus article on Auckland’s water crisis (May 31) highlights the importance of forward planning.

One only has to look at what happened to the city of Cape Town, which came dangerously low to completely running out of water in 2017/18, to see the issues. Storage dams had dropped to around 15 per cent and authorities were within days of switching off supply. The city was saved only by the winter rainfall in June 2018. Severe drought, significant population growth over the previous 20 years and poor forward planning were all to blame for the crisis. Sounds familiar? Watercare and Auckland Council should be studying the Cape Town water crisis carefully and learning from it, so the same mistakes are not repeated.

William Black, Auckland

I simply cannot believe that the Auckland mayor’s first approach to the Environment Minister, seeking relief from the bureaucratic restrictions of the Resource Management Act, was made less than two months ago, in April 2020. It clearly indicates that Phil Goff has been asleep at the wheel for almost as long as the Watercare CEO.

It seems clear that the Auckland Council/Watercare long-term policy with regard to dealing with this inevitable water shortage consists of placing both hands together and imploring the Almighty for more rain.

David Bevan, Auckland

Troubles on Earth

As Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned in AD64, Elon Musk and the American government send two men into space while thousands die from Covid-19 and other thousands riot in the streets about the murder of George Floyd. Danna Glendining, Taupo

Pokies ban overdue

Your May 17 article (‘‘A chance to ban pokies for good?’’), challenging the incumbent Government’s stance (or rather hands-off approach?) on a possible gaming machine ban, summed up the utterly ridiculous existence of this poverty-invoking practice to perfection.

A ban is long overdue. Isn’t it totally superfluous to suggest that another $2.5 million of taxpayer money is justified, just for another so-called ‘‘review’’?

Another research or review will not change the mere fact that about half the ‘‘gaming target group’’ derives money from social services, whilst continuously feeding its lifeinhibiting habit.

And before people ask ‘‘What about online and Lotto spending?’’, please do not compare this with the damage inflicted by public gaming machines. As your article clearly stated, that money generally flows from the poor to the richer areas.

Rene´ Blezer, Taupo

Reflection Day

It is indeed wonderful news that the trampers missing in Kahurangi National Park were found alive after 19 days in the bush. It is only because they went on their tramp wellprepared for their trip.

We must all learn a lesson from that amazing survival. Well prepared is also why New Zealand amazingly survived the deadly Covid-19 coronavirus with only six deaths outside two rest homes where 16 people died. We need a public holiday in August called Reflection Day to remember it all.

Murray Hunter, Auckland

The police should charge the two trampers. I also think that the

Government should pass a law requiring anyone going hiking or bush walking to carry an emergency locator beacon or be made to pay for the cost of searching for them in the case of a mishap. They would be easily found and it would take less time to get to them.

Cellphones don’t work everywhere.

David Mackenzie, Canterbury

Pull of politics

I read, in the press this week that National MP Amy Adams has revised her plans to retire from political life. In June last year Adams had announced that she would no longer serve as an MP because she needed a break from the relentless pressure of serving as a politician for several years. Her decision was reported widely and was lamented in some quarters. Adams drew many compliments for her honesty about the particular demands of political work on her family life.

It was anticipated that some time would be needed for Adams to recover from the stresses of political service, but her regeneration has occurred far faster than might have been predicted. Does it mean that political life was, and is, less demanding than she and possibly other people had anticipated? Or does it mean that the lure of politics and political power is something that is impossible to resist for some people?

Dr Gregory Lee, Christchurch

Banking outlook

ASB says it is lowering its interest rates to help businesses with cashflow. A lot of businesses will be marginal as to their ability to weather this economic crisis, so it’s a much improved outlook compared to the way the banks viewed farming back in the