Bureaucrats best kept out of water

In the small town of Ngatea on the Hauraki Plains in 1955, an epidemic of yellow jaundice broke out. Eventually, a month later, a health authority from the government turned up to discover an ageing septic tank on the school grounds had ruptured. Because of its close proximity to the school’s similarly ageing water tank supply, it had managed to seep some of its toxic content into the school’s tap water and the epidemic spread from there. Three people died and over 1000 — of which I was one — became seriously ill, many being hospitalised. The point being the time it took for the health authority to take action was critical in saving lives and the spread of the epidemic and that was back in a time when the bureaucracy was relatively small. Can you imagine, with the Three Waters bureaucracy on top of bureaucracy and many consultancies with local iwi, how much longer the process of taking action will eventuate? What is needed at enormously far less cost to taxpayers is a fast-track team of professionals with all the necessary equipment to be immediately dispatched to any water-infected trouble spot from the very moment it is detected.

Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.

Failed model

While the water reforms appear complicated and confusing, it does not mean that we need to consider making changes, whatever that may be. To date, water has been revenue for councils and they have not invested in the infrastructure to maintain and grow supply for our growing population. Watercare came under fire a few years ago because maintaining water supply was not part of their requirements and Auckland was left to negotiate drawing more water from the Waikato River. Wellington has had burst mains and Dunedin also has ancient piping. We have also forgotten the 5000 people who became ill after the water was contaminated by sheep waste. We cannot afford to stick with the status quo.

K. S. Agar, Onehunga.

Break camp

How many of us would place our spare cash into an investment that was likely to have a 15 per cent success rate? National’s proposal of boot camps for youth offenders, promises such a return. Overseas experience, and National’s brief flirtation with them years ago, tells us that. These military-style camps are simply a bone of retribution thrown at those who seek easy answers to a complex problem. The proposal smacks of having been hastily cobbled together. Good law is always based on timely research and evidence. Lazy ideas such as these should be shunned. Apparently, most youth offenders go on to re-offend from these camps and some even become hardened criminals. The problem certainly — and urgently — merits our attention but not in this populist vote-catching way. Any criticism of boot camps is swiftly denounced as hand-wringing. No, a civilised society should always demand answers, ones that encompass the idea of rehabilitation, especially where young people are concerned, with a better than 15 per cent return rate.

Diana Walford, Greenlane.

Embracing change

A reader suggested this week (NZ Herald, November 21) that Christopher Luxon’s “boot camp” solution was preferable to what they suggested was Labour’s possible solution of giving young offenders a hug. A hug is probably just what they need. For many of these offenders there seems to have been precious little of any sort of affection and love in their short lives.

Teresa Graham, Warkworth.

Little interest

I could count on one hand the number of 16-year-olds who have a burning desire to aid in democracy by voting in a general election. Those championing this cause currently are a minority group who have an idealistic view of the world. Many 16-year-olds still grunt, or hiss, at their parents and think they know everything anyway. The only democracy they care about is whether their parents will let them out on a Friday night. If that is a no, they retreat to their rooms until it is time to eat.

John Ford, Taradale.

Right to choose

I am surprised the Act Party is against lowering the voting age. Libertarians believe that it is usually better to give people more free choice. Why not 16 year olds? The average 16-year-old is far better educated than my generation was. They stay at school longer and are more aware than previous generations of what is happening in the world. It is their future and they should have a say in it.

Joan Caulfield, Parnell.

Everyone votes

Congratulations to the Make It 16 advocacy group who argued voting laws are discriminatory on the basis of age discrimination. The Supreme Court has declared it is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act 1990 to prevent 16 and 17 year olds from voting. National and Act are opposed and echo arguments from the 1890s when extending the vote to women was proposed. The next step is to make votes possible for all citizens, however young. Parents should get a proxy vote for each child under the age of 16. That would recognise the true value of raising the next generation and attract all sorts of promises from politicians eager to enlist parents’ support.

Janfrie Wakim, Epsom.

Stamford potential

If the National Party wants a perfect challenger to Jacinda Ardern, they should adopt Erica Stamford as their leader. She has shown an ability to debate issues in a calm and reasonable manner and can cope with issues as they arise in debate. Her communication skills are as good as the Prime Minister’s and she could do just as well representing our nation in other countries. Christopher Luxon may think that he is “keeping his powder dry” for late 2023, but this powder rather resembles the dust of decomposed policies of yesteryear.

Hugh Webb, Huntington.

Road to ruin

So, Transmission Gully is rife with potholes already. Just like most Auckland main roads; potholes everywhere, many that were resurfaced in the past two years (SH16, Massey Rd in Mā ngere, Mt Wellington Highway, etc). We have a fraction of the traffic of most cities in the world, and having just driven 1600km in the UK without a pothole in sight, it proves that NZTA and Auckland Council are nothing short of incompetent. Forget bus lanes and cycleways, fix our roads so that they last for 10 years for the little traffic that they endure. Put the money where we want it and need it.

Glenn J Pacey, Glendowie.

Needed nurses

Today I visited a local clinic for a dressing change and met a delightful Filipino nurse, and discussed with her the trials and tribulations she went through to get into nursing here. She was required to, of course, provide, and have doublechecked by three different authorities, details of her qualifications. She also had to do a “bridging course” in Christchurch for six weeks, costing over $11,000, as well as an English-speaking course at additional cost, let alone the return flights to Christchurch, before flying up to Auckland, and having to find accommodation in a tight market with very high rents. Embarrassingly, she has waited over a year for her residency, and because of this cannot return home to her family for a holiday. Nothing is more important than the health of a country’s people, and our Government has got to take some responsibility, by opening the border to appropriately qualified, Englishspeaking nurses. Their country has already proved that their medical degree is equal to ours. Have people died because of these shortages? I think we all know the answer to this.

Andrew Harford, St Heliers.

Privet pollen

The Auckland council website lists Chinese privet as a pest plant and advises property owners to eradicate it. So guess where it grows the most prolifically? Yep, council land. Take a drive out to Whenuapai. There are not just privet bushes, but privet trees along Brigham Creek Rd, Kauri Rd, and surrounding roads. For anyone that suffers from hay fever, asthma etc, causing eye irritation, sneezing, headaches, this plant is a big problem. Every year this is left to grow, the bigger the problem, and even more health problems.

Margaret Dagger, Whenuapai.