North tots with caries deserve better
I like Sheryl Mai, but was disappointed to hear her using inflammatory language opposing fluoridation. Northland toddlers with caries deserve better.
Sheryl Mai is not a public health expert. Her stance is exactly why the government is moving to put such decisions in the hands of the medical officer of health, Ashley Bloomfield.
Juliet Golightly
Whangarei
Credibility lost
The letter from Colin Edwards (letters 23/3/21) makes some surprising claims. It is contorted logic for Colin to claim 92.8 per cent of the population support Ma¯ ori wards because 7.2 per cent of those registered on the Northland Regional Council electoral roll signed the Democracy Northland petition.
Firstly, the petition was neither for nor against Ma¯ ori wards. It was about whether the community at large should have a say on the matter.
Secondly, the threshold to force the council to hold a binding referendum was 5 per cent, which petition organisers gathered, plus some, well before the required time.
Colin loses all credibility when he suggests the threshold for any petitions to be relevant should be +50 per cent. He says the right of veto was an anomaly and did not apply to any other council decision. That's incorrect. It also applies when councils decide to change from first past the post voting system to single transferable vote, and still does apply. Colin does not seem to appreciate the veto existed to protect the public from councillors changing the rules by which they are elected to suit themselves. It was a safeguard introduced by the Helen Clark government at the time Ma ori wards were enabled. The anomaly is that it has been removed when the voting system is changed to introduce Ma ori wards.
It's a shame there will now be no referendum on this matter as it would have been a perfect opportunity to debunk some of the misconceptions and errors Colin raises in his letter.
Raewyn Messham Whangarei
No-fuss registration
On a monthly visit to town from Ruaka ka I entered businesses and government offices. Whanga rei District Council and the library are to be congratulated on their methods for registering your presence that did not breach privacy requirements and that catered for people with no technology. Well done.
Other big offices and businesses seem to practise ageism and/or neglect of their health and safety policies. As one gets older one weighs up the advantages or not of embracing new technology and either because of finances or lack of interest one makes a decision.
Covid-19 is anywhere and everywhere so businesses must be responsible about the transmission of it, with a no-fuss way to enter premises.
Bev Woods
Ruakaka