A quick word
Australia decided to do something to collect the hundreds of millions avoided by multinationals — it hired more staff. Bill English has said that he intends to do something about the $ 300 million to $ 1 billion avoided by the same multinationals here. The proposed restructure of IRD staff shows this to be just another hollow promise. The question is, given there can be no voter backlash in collecting this tax, why does it never get done?
Neville Cameron, Coromandel.
It’s great to see the proposed building of the Paparoa Track in the South Island but it’s a shame the Auckland Council can’t afford to fix the wooden bridge on the “national” walkway between Milford and Takapuna that lots of people use every day of the week and now have to “trespass” across a local heritage site yard.
Ron Wall, Castor Bay.
What sort of a book is worth over $ 11,400 short of some extremely rare, collectable items such as a Shakespeare original? And why has it suddenly come to light now, three months after Ed Sims departed Airways NZ for Canada. The spending was clearly excessive; let’s have some accountability for it.
Paul Beck, West Harbour.
It beggars belief that Don Bunting was chair of a Building Standards Committee, and yet now, in 2017, writes to the Herald that untreated timber was not the issue, leaks were the issue. How could Don not know that buildings have leaked since time immemorial, but didn’t used to rot?
Jim Carlyle, Te Atatu Peninsula.
A few years ago I wrote to the Herald praising smooth traffic flows during school holidays. A number of organisations replied including education officials and Auckland Transport experts. They wrote of changing school times, more public transport for students and changing parents’ attitudes towards picking their kids up. Of course, absolutely nothing has been done.
Rex Head, Papatoetoe.
It is good to see Minister Paula Bennett finally admitting that there is a housing crisis, but it beggars belief that she can say they had no idea of the scale of it. People have been pointing this out for a number of years, while this Government has refused to listen and pretended all is fine.
M. W. Stevens, Freemans Bay.
My wife and I have just returned from 22 days as a guest of NZ, taking in the three test matches. The welcome we had from all you Kiwis was absolutely fantastic. There is not enough space in your paper to go into the many kindnesses bestowed upon us. I appreciate not all Kiwis were happy with the outcome, but not all Lions supporters were either, so maybe it was good for all!
Rob Filmer, Kent.