The price of justice not being seen to be done
Sixteen months ago my employment was terminated over a breach of confidentiality relating to a non-disclosure agreement, an agreement I did not sign and that to this date I have still not seen.
I recently attended mediation through MBIE with myself, my lawyer and my previous employer with my cost exceeding $16,000 so far.
My employer did not attend in good faith and has basically thumbed their nose at the whole process.
During the 16 months I have been told by all parties that everything is confidential and I must not use social media or any other media to defend myself. I’ve struggled with this as it seems bad employers are allowed to keep their bad practices from public scrutiny: justice must be seen to be done comes to mind.
This bring me to my last point: justice delayed is justice denied.
The wait to get to the Employment Tribunal is going to be at least eight months and a cost per day of $4500, plus more legal costs up to that point.
It’s absolutely ridiculous that employers now have an ability to control opinions of employees and can sack people at a whim over political, social or other beliefs.
I wonder how many people have been through a process that is financially and mentally stressful and seems geared for lawyers and employers. Something really needs to change when companies hold such core values as treating people in a fair and reasonable way with adherence to mental health and social values.
It just shows these core values are all about just bluster and mean absolutely nothing.
[The Otago Daily Times has agreed to the letter writer being anonymous due to ongoing legal action. Editor.]
Ready for change
The latest 1News poll (19.4.26) reflects what we are hearing across campus: students want change that delivers a fairer, more secure future.
As a student in Ōtepoti, I see the pressures daily. Conversations in lecture theatres and flats centre on three clear priorities — good, stable jobs, reliable healthcare, and affordable, sustainable housing.
Students aren’t asking for the impossible. They want their degrees to lead to meaningful work, timely access to healthcare, and housing that isn’t permanently out of reach. The poll captures this growing mood: the status quo is no longer delivering.
Importantly, this is about aspiration, not just frustration. Students want to contribute and build their futures — but that requires leadership willing to invest in the future and in people.
The message is clear: young people are engaged, informed, and ready for change that reflects their realities.
[Liam Calder is vice-president of Southern Young Labour.]
Peace and carnage
I have been pondering the whole hotspot Middle East mess and have concluded, pessimistically I’m afraid, that the word "peace", as it is understood by fundamentalist Sharia Islam (Iran’s government) and fundamentalist Judaism (Netanyahu’s government), equates to "annihilation".
I predict there will be no lasting ceasefire or agreement, as each seeks to obliterate the "other" and will continue to try to do so ad infinitum. They both believe they have a religious mandate to inflict death and destruction on the infidel. Moreover, Netanyahu has lassoed the orange-faced egocentric and amoral American into a rodeo endgame that will ensure chaos and disaster.
I feel for the ordinary people of Iran, of the Middle East in general, and those of Israel who will be first in the firing line while their governments all slaver over the carnage, from a safe distance of course.
Spending history shows why Three Waters vital
The truth of Mark Paterson’s remarks (ODT 18.4.26) can easily be validated if we look at the spending of the Dunedin City Council over the past 20 to 25 years.
The George St upgrade, civic centre and town hall upgrade, the stadium, railway station and law courts upgrade, Macandrew Bay Rd and shared path, the West Harbour shared path, Mosgiel pool and South Dunedin library.
Although all these projects are beneficial for a thriving city, they are unable to function without a resilient Three Waters infrastructure.
If the DCC had prioritised South Dunedin flood mitigation and Three Waters would there be enough funds for the other projects?
Would the government have subsidised the stadium if the DCC had run out of money?
The early settlers of Dunedin did an amazing job installing infrastructure. Why have we let it fall into a state where it not only needs major maintenance but also upgrades for a growing and vibrant city?
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: letters@odt.co.nz
