These cuts show what we value
Make no mistake, more children and families will be harmed as a consequence of government-driven bottom-line job cuts. Oranga Tamariki staff are stretched incredibly thin and have very limited resources already.
If this was about the wellbeing of our children there are other ways to go about transformational change.
These include radical investment into the social determinants of child protection: reduce poverty, provide housing, and ensure universal access to high-quality comprehensive healthcare and education.
Oranga Tamariki mahi at the coalface is not perfect but it does save lives, behind the scenes, in desperate and miserable situations that many in our society cannot imagine and certainly never interact with. Social workers do.
A First World child protection system costs money. It’s devastating to me that we in Aotearoa/New Zealand are simply unwilling to pay the price - these cuts reflect who we are, and what we value.
Dr Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs, Burwood
Save our zoo
Orana Wildlife Park is just two years off turning 50 (Orana’s future at risk, April 17).
It has taken many years of blood, sweat and tears by staff and volunteers to get our Canterbury zoo to this stage and has brought much pleasure and joy to many thousands of people, especially our children.
Over 1000 inhabitants are displayed in NZ natural environments with Incredible conservation and environmental education for our children.
CEO Lynn Anderson and her dedicated staff achieve an outstanding amount that must be preserved for future generations.
I well remember years ago, as a volunteer, helping to dig the foundations for the native birds walk-through aviary. Peter Yearbury, Christchurch Central
Wishful thinking
Yesterday’s front page threw me! The top half (the more important half?) was taken up with Job cuts at exclusive golf club, continued on Page 4, in part, ...golf club cut hospo team.
On two days a week the menu is to be downgraded to “limited food options” ie “fried food and toasties”.
How many economically challenged
Letters
Send letters to letters@press.co.nz or the Editor, Private Bag 4722, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch, 8014. Letters may be edited or rejected at The Press’s discretion. Correspondence will not be entered into. Letters should be no longer than 150 words and a name, postal address and phone number must be provided. Pen names are not accepted. Letters may be edited for clarity.
Media Council
The Press is subject to the NZ Media Council. Complaints must be directed to letters@press.co.nz. If the complainant is unsatisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council via its website mediacouncil.org.nz
New Zealanders would wish for such a dilemma! Surely there are more important local issues for the front page than catering struggles faceed by the members of an exclusive (and expensive) Christchurch golf club?
Owen Braybrook, Northcote
A national treasure
Cathedral finances are shambolic. “What would Jesus do?” has been asked, and the gospels provide ample clarification. Luke 14:28-29 says (paraphrased) “anyone building a tower must have enough dosh to finish it, otherwise they’ll look short of more than just money”.
Next, Jesus applauded a widow for giving away her last two mites, and the Anglican church has no shortage of widows.
I’m unsure about this solution because he also accused the Pharisees of “devouring widows’ houses”. Discretion is advised.
However Jesus hits the bullseye with his “render unto Caesar” about paying taxes. Taxes imply mutual obligations, so our current Caesar Christopher Luxon should top up the cathedral coffers until they’re “pressed down, shaken together, and running over”.
A national treasure should be financed by the whole nation.
Phillip Rex Robinson, Waltham
Treaty honoured
The retention of two Ngāi Tahu councillors on Environment Canterbury’s council is worthy of support.
This provision for representation was passed into law in 2022. The move honours the intention of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to partner with tangata whenua and to facilitate rangitiratanga in a meaningful way.
The Kemp Deed (1848) did not provide for all the reserves and community welfare promised for Ngāi Tahu.
The small changes for redress deserve promotion. Tangata whenua have, as kaitiaki, a commitment to the environment that requires a special place at the table.
Don Rowlands, Riccarton
Undemocratic roles
I agree with Mike Yardley’s assessment of the undemocratic nature of the appointed Ngāi Tahu ECan councillors (ECan’s Ngāi Tahu councillors should go, April 16).
Other regions, such as Southland, have found suitable ways to engage with mana whenua while keeping the democratic foundation of local government.
Both the Bill of Rights Act and Labour’s constitution require free, democratic elections.
Labour (my party) in government ignored both requirements despite my representations to local Labour MPs, none of whom responded.
Rino Tirikatene was elected as MP for Te Tai Tonga, to represent all South Island Māori electors, not just the minority of whom are Ngāi Tahu.
In promoting only Ngāi Tahu interests and only in Canterbury, I think he failed in his duties to all of his former constituents.
New Zealand has the longest-running, continuous, fully democratic electoral system in the world. The Government’s proposal to repeal ECan’s blatantly undemocratic anomaly will keep it that way.
Kerry Burke, former chair, ECan
Trusty triumvirate?
Will this coalition of leader, deputy leader and Foreign Minister be as trustworthy and reliable as a skein of geese flying in formation now that the stormy war clouds are gathering and getting bigger every day?
When you look at their individual track records, can we rely on this coalition to lead us successfully into the future when at home they are making thousands of workers redundant, while they at least, like backbenchers, have job security until the next election.
Brian Brodie, Mairehau
Mitigation ruse
Coal companies wanting to mitigate, make less severe, their environmental impact is a ruse to distract or disguise the harm mining causes the environment. (Mayors welcome less red tape for coal mines, April 17).
The greenwashing going on using the term “mitigation” is deliberately avoiding being honest about the harm it will certainly cause in terms of ecosystems disturbed, pollution, and carbon released. Can we please have some facts on consequences.
The mayors who celebrate more jobs, fair enough, but I suggest they have tunnel vision like Resource Minister Shane Jones.
Create jobs that fit in with our aspirations to protect endangered species, restore our native forests (carbon sinks), reduce pollution and carbon emissions.
Unfortunately many projects are not honest about their environmental destruction or carbon footprint.
If it’s going to be open slather to exploit the West Coast environment, I ask what has been learned or understood about the impact coal mining has on our taonga, our forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife. We know better. Show some respect and intelligence.
ClaireCoveney,Opawa
Parliamentary term
It’s easy to follow the arguments for a four-year parliamentary term and agree there is indeed a need for change. But then someone like Shane Jones gets a ministerial warrant and you have an overpowering urge to suggest that perhaps two years is long enough.
Ray White, Parklands
Productivity problem
The trouble, as Heather Roy pointed out in her column of April 16 (Poor productivity, poor Kiwis) is that New Zealand productivity is very low. People take this as a quandary but it is no mystery at all.
Our productivity is low because of the absence of performance tests, particularly in the educative period. This is a debility caused by our former status of being a welfare state.
America greatly exceeds us in productivity because it is inured to performance tests throughout its culture. There is a lesson here for all of us.
Lorne Kuehn, Avonhead