In headlights Tax would not work

Margaret Bryant, Whitby highly neglected child, ‘‘Moana’’, being placed with a hitherto suitable family.

Highly dubious arguments and questionable motives were advanced by this government agency which is ‘‘dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future’’.

I fail to see how appealing against its own placement of Moana with another family in the first place was in any way an advancement of this aspirational goal. Surely Moana’s health and welfare should have been at the centre of its thinking. It didn’t appear to be.

For the ministry to support such an appeal is disgraceful, and would appear to be unappropriated expenditure at the very least. (The auditor-general should take more than a passing interest in this matter.) I wonder too what the attorney-general and Ō Crown Law had advised before the appeal had commenced.

Ian B Anderson, Te Aro

I recently spent 15 minutes in the prime minister’s shoes, experiencing the top job. Well, not really, but for a brief moment I had a taste of what it must feel like.

It happened on the back road from Wellington to Hawke’s Bay, with no street lighting at night between towns.

It’s a good road, but with plenty of bends, blind corners, and ups and downs. And, wouldn’t you know it, just north of Shannon some idiot came up behind and tailgated me. At 80kph, too close is too close so after a while I pulled over and let him pass.

Why then, less than 10 minutes later, did I catch up to him? Who is this guy? Is he after me? I backed off and the penny dropped. When I was in front, my headlights showed him the road ahead.

Now behind him, I could see the road thanks to his lights. I started to see his driving faults too. He could have speeded up here, turned more tightly there – he had become the careful driver I was earlier.

It’s an obvious metaphor for the role of the Opposition. It’s so easy to tailgate the leader, see the ups and downs coming and lay blame for whatever is in front of you.

Grant Stevenson, taki Beach

So the Government may be considering imposing a windfall tax on banks to encourage a reduction in profit.

Sorry, it won’t work. The banks will pay the tax and raise their charges to compensate, passing an increased burden on to customers

If banks had a conscience they would treat all customers as