Politicians have no right to steal away national identity

Almost 58 years ago I was born in New Zealand and grew up identifying myself as a New Zealander by way of our current flag and, at a later date, our current National Anthem.

For me this is what defines me as a proud New Zealander; when I see this flag flying and hear our National Anthem playing.

How dare any politician think they have the right to steal away from me my identity as a New Zealander. I amsure there are millions of other proud New Zealanders who feel the same.

WAYNE HAWKER Phillipstown

Keep it local

In response to Karol London’s letter (Aug 6) regarding the New Zealand National Anthem being sung by a Welsh male voice choir as ‘‘electrifying’’; I wonder if she meant sung by the Christchurch Liedertafel male voice choir. I personally have never heard our anthem performed by the Welsh but it would be better to keep it local and just as electrifying.

CRAIG DAVEY Central Christchurch

Electrifying

Karol London, you’re a cracker. Your endorsement of our National Anthem fits exactly the rendition used by the Christchurch Liedertafel Male Voice Choir.

Once again, next Sunday afternoon, August 16, at 1.30pm in the Transitional Cathedral, we will open our programme with a rendition in both Maori and English, and it will be electrifying.

However I should say that ‘‘Welsh’’ in our context has quite a different connotation to your use of the word. We have just two members of that cultural identity.

MALCOLM PALMER Musical Director Christchurch Liedertafel Male Voice Choir Avonhead

The full picture

And there was I for months accusing the Government, and John Key in particular, of lack of joined up thinking. I’ve finally put the pieces together and can see the full picture.

They preside over a Trans Pacific Partnership process that has the potential to change New Zealand as a country for ever, committing as it does this and future government to a all manner of obligations. At the same (surely it can’t be coincidence), pushing ahead against most people’s wishes (yet again) for a new flag. It’s obvious – every new country needs a new flag.

WAYNE OWENS West Melton

Should he vote?

Ken Watson’s idea (July 25) that only committed citizens who have sworn the oath should be able to vote in the flag referendum has caused some comment in this household, which consists of one who was born here and one who was born in the United Kingdom.

If the one who was born in the UK and who holds on to his British passport with tenacious pride casts a vote he would make the whole referendum null and void, according to Mr Watson. As the West Countryman is determined, despite my instructions, to cast his vote for the present flag, to have him disenfranchised may be a quick way to restore domestic harmony.

C NEWMAN Linwood

Get priorities right

Recently, my now late husband was admitted to Christchurch Hospital where he had an emergency CT Scan.

We were told that while the hospital had two scanners, valued at $2.5 million each; another was needed but no funding was available. $26 million on a flag change that will benefit no one either physically or mentally.

There is a bowel cancer screening programme that has been trialled in the North Island. Was to be rolled out nationwide. No funding available. $36 million on a cycle/walking track on the Harbour Bridge.

While sadly these two initiatives are too late for Bill, what a wonderful legacy it would have been for the future of New Zealanders and their families who wouldn’t have to suffer the agony of losing a loved one if there was sufficient funding available.

Come on, Mr Key and your cronies, get your priorities right.

GERALDINE HASSALL Hawarden

Canadian election

Whilst we watch the colourful Donald Trump permanently change political reporting into entertainment, for a US election that will not happen for another 15 months, Canada’s elections on October 19, have so far been ignored, as it always seems to in this country.

I wish the national New Zealand press would focus on this election even just a little, at the cost of reducing its entertainment features. Politics after all deserves more than light reporting.

Understanding Canada politically might help the public at large where TPPA is concerned, and where Canada is coming from regarding beef and dairy, if only we could read about it.

I could tell the reader what is at stakes in this election, for the world, but I amnot a journalist, I will leave this job to them.

To be fair, there remains 70 days of campaigning before the day, plenty of time for New Zealand journalists to catch up.

FELICIEN FORGUES Woodend

Schoolyard squabble

New Zealand is not getting much information on the recent TTP negotiations.

Lori Wallach Director of public citizens Global Trade Watch was interviewed on The Ed Schultz Show (wegoted.com) on August 4 explaining why the deal stalled. New Zealand was mentioned twice.

NZ said, ‘‘All right – we will give up affordable medicine if you let me have the right to sell you more dairy.’’

Australia said, ‘‘I will give you the corporate tribunals if you let me sell you more sugar’’.

NZ again: ‘‘Unless we basically wipe out your small farmers in the USA we’re not having any deal on dairy.’’

Mexico insisted that Japan cars have 65 per cent content supplied from TTP countries. Japan wanted 30 per cent so it could buy lots of Chinese parts.

It seems like a schoolyard squabble that NZ should walk away from.

JOHN WALDRON St Albans

Council scorecard

Yet again, we see an impressionistic approach in place of a robust analysis in The Press’ (Aug 3) evaluation of councillors.

What rating scheme was used in the evaluation of the functional role of each councillor?

Thanks to the excellent live streaming facilities, I have followed some of the council’s key meetings online.

Our longest serving councillor, Yani Johanson, serves a unique and vital role for which he deserves the kind of acknowledgment and praise that actually matters; that is re-election time after time.

Yani’s willingness to question has been very useful in understanding as well as exposing the potential risks associated with the Council’s decisions. Councillors like Yani need to be encouraged, not criticised.

If it is true that Raf Manji, the man that I voted for, is impatient with the democratic process and his main work is done behind the scenes, then maybe he is better suited as a TPPA negotiator than a city councillor.

DONNA MILES-MOJAB Merivale

Asset sales

I was amazed to see you article on councillors (Aug 3). I can’t remember any of the councillors campaigning to strip assets from the people Christchurch. All those councillors marked with a cross signed a pledge to retain assets, the mayor and deputy mayor while not signing the pledge indicated a general principle of not selling.

In judging the performance of elected officials the first criteria must be whether they kept their word or foreshadowed controversial actions that they intended to take. Polls and submissions show a huge support for holding assets for our children’s children future. All those who voted for asset sales fail in the first requirement of democracy; to stand by what they campaigned for.

Then you have the gall to criticise Yani for attempting to sheet home the responsibility for the council financial challenges to the central government. That is Yani’s job, to speak truthfully. The Mayor should be telling us that the central Government has taken a huge tax from Christchurch as a result of the earthquake but hasn’t met its promises to do whatever is necessary to ensure Christchurch recovers.

The only honest thing for those who voted to sell to do is to tell the people of Christchurch why the city has financial challenges and then resign and let the people choose.

STEPHEN HOWARD Avonhead

Will have no worth

Having just met with Strategy Planning we have come away with the knowledge that our Government and council are determined to take away the homes and properties of the eastside community without having to pay for it. These departments have allowed areas to be built on over many years but expect the dwellers to pay for these departments’ mistakes.

Land and house values will have no worth under the district plan, making rebuilding or selling a nightmare, leaving people with the loss of their greatest financial asset, their home.

We need to get every resident concerned to fill out the form with help from residents’ associations or friends (four weeks to do it) and let them know that we want areas of concern fixed or red zoned. In the case of South Shore build the overdue stopbank like Sumner has or turn us all into red zone and pay everyone out. Let us all stand together on this, even if it means taking out a class action against whoever is driving this rout.

AILEEN and TONY TRIST Waitikiri

Credit is due

I believe that credit should be given where credit is due. I wanted to attend a High Court hearing. When I rang the Justice Department’s 0800 number I asked where I might be able to park my car. They suggested I ring the City Council for advice. This I did, and without hesitation, was given all the information I needed. Within minutes I received an email with a link to a website which included a comprehensive map of all downtown parking. The Christchurch City Council gets more than a fair bit of stick from many different quarters, but on this occasion I gave them 10 out of 10 for efficiency, friendliness and top service.

IVAN HANSEN Avonhead