Homelessness features praised by ‘ODT’ readers
Both Mary Williams and your paper are to be congratulated for her recent articles on homelessness in Dunedin.
This is a demographic we do not often observe and infrequently expose and analyse as a justice issue. Adequate food and shelter is a basic human right and I applaud the work of those who are exposing the inadequacies of the systems some of us have naively assumed are doing their job.
With a month to go before elections and in a country that values a fair go, I hope that some of your readers who are able will do whatever they can to begin to alleviate these circumstances.
Tip of the iceberg
Yet again we are shown "do as I say and not as I do" with the current disastrous boarding house dilemma.
As taxpayers we all pay for the accommodation supplements being provided on behalf of our "homeless" and our vulnerable, yet our government teams supposedly undertaking tenancy checks, investigating tenancy compliance and healthy home standards have been totally remiss.
What are they actually doing then? To have so many houses discovered to be derelict through the ODT’s investigation is totally unacceptable.
Like anything it only comes to the fore once an investigation takes place. If none takes place, the abuse of the system just carries on regardless.
The ODT have done a brilliant job in bringing this all to the fore and the journalist/s involved to be commended. This is just the tip of the iceberg and I’m sure other parts of current officialdom will be found to be just as lax.
Open wide
The Labour Party’s announcement of free dental care for up to 30 years should give us all cause to smile.
This policy will ensure the maintenance of good oral health at an age when it is most critical.
As a doctor who has worked in emergency departments in the past, I have helped young patients who had horrible dental pain and could afford treatment with a dentist. Removing this barrier to care will be life-changing, particularly for those who have deferred dental treatment due to cost.
Those who criticise the cost are likely ignorant of the broader health benefits that good oral health imparts. There are proven links between poor oral health and various non-communicable diseases. In the long term, caring for our teeth will pay dividends.
In Dunedin, not only will our young people benefit from this initiative, but the city and university are set to get a boost from a 50% increase in dental students. The only downside is that the offer is yet to be available to all age groups. However, all indications are that this is a step on the path toward universal dental care.
Noble words
I find it difficult to attempt a charitable response to Simon Noble (4.9.23). It is clear that Mr Noble suffers from a chronic and possibly terminal case of Green party rhetoric. His commentary on the need for a fairer wealth distribution underpins that reality.
I still await his or any scientific definition of the mauri of the water, as his article is very strong on the need to follow the science.
It is not my opinion but a ministerial directive that the health and well being of a river must take precedence over economic use.
A casual glance at health, education, welfare and even environmental needs shows a huge demand for wealth creation. One day Mr Noble might understand that the only place where (environmental ) pleasure comes before (environmental) production is the dictionary.
No such thing as safe drinking: Cancer Society
There is no such thing as "safe" drinking. Alcohol causes cancer.
Virginia Nicholls’ opinion piece on alcohol (ODT 24.8.23) does not reflect the overwhelming strong evidence of the health harms of alcohol.
The World Health Organisation classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen — substances known to cause cancer in humans. Other Group 1 carcinogens include tobacco and asbestos.
Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including two of the most common types in New Zealand — bowel and breast.
There is no safe level of drinking alcohol in relation to cancer. Drinking any regular alcohol can increase your chance of developing some cancers.
The World Cancer Research Fund recommends, "for cancer prevention, it is best not to drink alcohol".
New Zealand’s relationship with alcohol is complex and often focuses on the public health impacts of excessive consumption.
Addressing this is undeniably important, but so is raising awareness about the role alcohol plays in general health and wellbeing.
We need to reform our alcohol laws to address alcohol-related harm.
Taieri Gorge railway
I understand the Dunedin City Council is committed to using and maintaining this wonderful line. This is good to hear. I have twice been able to travel on this train, what a wonderful trip. I encourage all locals to do the same. This will help keep the train returning to Middlemarch again. The scenery is fantastic.
Of statesmen, elections and libertarianism
I recall in years past election day was a time for hope back when New Zealand statesmen had the power to change things, but since Roger Douglas brought the world financial system and their libertarian American values in to the mix the election sparkle has diminished somewhat.
Today we have extinction rebellions and raw gangster politics plus the worldwide web into the mix, making American libertarianism the new dividing line of our democracy.
Do we vote for extinction and war on the weak and unfortunate or do we take back people power and stop making the poor pay all the taxes and do all the work?
Is our election actually addressing this divide or is it theatre from the descendants of the British East India Company to keep the wheels turning?
Libertarianism is ideal for the extremely rich people who hate paying taxes and following laws but not so good for the rest of us who pay for it all and get our freedoms restricted, extorted for food, services and shelter and our savings shriveled.
That that is what is on offer this election. Go figure.
Voting age
I know you will be as shocked as me to find a Bill tabled to lower the voting age without a referendum. Isn’t that in effect changing our constitution without consultation?
Are there not enough concerns this election without slipping through a Bill that has not been discussed and goes against what the world renown Dunedin Multidisciplinary Study found in relation the maturity of a 16-year-old brain. Has democracy been lost in New Zealand?
The proposed lowering of the voting age, which would only affect local body elections, is now before a parliamentary select committee for further consideration. Editor
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
