A leading playwright on DCC’s arts policy
The Dunedin City Council was incensed when the government changed its mind over the hospital building.
Now it has done exactly the same by cancelling its support for the Performing Arts Centre.
Roger Hall
Auckland
Please explain
Buried in paragraph 13 of the 5-year review of post-Covid economic impacts (ODT Opinion 15.4.25) is the bold statement “Overall, their (the government’s) policy mix appears to be right for the current economic environment” referring to the need for “either tax increases or reductions in spending”.
Where is the justification for this bold statement? There is no balance - it’s all tax reduction and spending reduction for the current government. Yet economic common sense, in the disproportionately low taxed NZ environment, is that tax increases are needed to achieve the standards of health care, climate change abatement, housing availability to name just a few that a country like New Zealand should aspire to. Let’s hear more justification from the authors for their buried assertion.
Peter McIntyre
North East Valley
Article decried
Gwynne Dyer's World View column (ODT Opinion 14.4.25) could have been written by the Kremlin. Leaving aside its unfortunate timing, just after a devastating Russian ballistic missile attack on civilians in Sumy, the reason Russia is not killing more Ukrainians is not for lack of trying — it is because Ukraine has anti-missile defences and has built bomb shelters for its citizens. Otherwise the casualties would be in the tens of thousands from the thousands of missiles and drones launched at Ukrainian cities.
Stephen Davis
St Clair
On the other hand
Another good article from Gwynne Dyer. He points out the high proportion of Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza, compared to Ukrainian civilians, showing Russia cares more about enemy civilians than Israel.
The high civilian death toll in Gaza is unsurprising considering the inhumane treatment of Palestinians by Israel for many decades, and the fact it is a genocide, not a war.
There is also the fact that Gaza now has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world, due to the ongoing genocide.
Chris Coe
Wanaka
Backbone lacking
I agree with Ewan McDougall (ODT 14.4.25) that Christopher Luxon was lacking some backbone in being absent for David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill even though he had always stated he would be an opponent to it.
So many comments and social media posts claim a major victory for those opposing the Bill, but I’m a little perplexed.
Why is it then that those same people are totally against a referendum on the same? Wouldn’t that be the fairest method of deciding? Wouldn’t that finally silence the “insignificant” number of those agreeing with Seymour?
If there was such a “resounding” victory as Mr McDougall states, surely there would be no fear to have the public decide in the fairest means available? To bring up numbers as he does with no thought to how they are derived is almost laughable.
Numbers and so-called facts and figures can be fudged so easily as we all learnt in recent times hence a referendum should be the only way for a decision to be made on such an important issue.
Joyce Yee-Murdoch
Cromwell
History provides data to sustain an argument
It occurred to me recently, in a retrospective round about manner, just how important is it to have a knowledge of history.
After having had a fairly heated disagreement with a person who has become convinced by social media that Covid vaccinations lead to genetic sterility, I was left wondering why I had faith in the safety and efficacy of my next flu jab and accompanying Covid vaccine. I then realised that my confidence in vaccines comes about because I know the history of immunology.
Many names come to mind: Jenner, Semilvice, Koch, Lister, Pasteur, Fleming, Salk, Sabine and others, all working in various countries and different times in the last two or more centuries. These names represent a history of medical research and endeavour to overcome the diseases that afflict humanity. They are example of how a knowledge of history illuminates our understanding of current issues.
The lesson is, do not take notice of populist propaganda. Better by far to learn the lessons of history.
Taranaki Smith
Palmerston
River review would be a timely task
A recent article in the ODT (11.4.25) reported on a debate if there should be a review of how the Waitaki River is managed. The Waitaki, arguably one of Otago’s iconic rivers, was once a proud braided river. Unfortunately, it has been allowed to become sadly diminished and so a review would be timely in my view.
The lower Waitaki has lost many of the attributes of a braided river. It is now mainly a central flow confined between banks dominated by a jungle of gorse, broom, willows and blackberry. The jungle makes access very difficult. It is also home to wallabies and pigs.
The capacity of the river in its naturally braided state to support native wildlife is diminished as is its capacity to support valued introduced species. The once famous run of salmon has gone. There are many reasons for this but contributing factors include the tiny trickle that was once the Hakataramea River no longer having the capacity to support salmon migration. Bulldozing and planting of side-braids also not only affects the river but also removes residual salmon spawning adjacent to the main river.
It seems to me that in the face of steady deterioration of one of the rivers that defines the character of Otago, it would be appropriate to take the time to review current management practices.
John Highton
Roslyn
[John Highton is a Fish & Game councillor. His letter is his own opinion and does not represent any official view from Fish & Game. Editor.]
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