What does it take to abandon neutrality?
Nothing in recent times has shown how inept and outdated New Zealand’s foreign policy is than Winston Peters and Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman stating New Zealand is "not taking sides" in this highly dangerous unprovoked attack on Iran by Israel.
That we can be so certain and decisive about the Russia-Ukraine war yet bottle joining the majority of the world’s unequivocal condemnation of Israel is morally bankrupt and craven.
What will it take Israel to do to get us to do the right thing? A nuclear bomb on Tehran? We cannot credibly be neutral here.
WWJD?
Last week in my submission to the Dunedin City Council when I opposed the Sanctions Bill against Israel, Cr Jim O’Malley asked me as a church minister "What would Jesus do?"
I felt he was leaving out a huge chunk of the pie and just wanted to chew on one tiny portion. In hindsight though, as his question was put to me publicly, I would like to answer him in a letter to the editor.
This is what Jesus would do: He would first point to October 7 and tell Hamas and those with them that they must repent for what they had done. He would then tell them they should lay their weapons down. Upon compliance, Jesus would then take the Israelis by one hand and the Palestinians by the other hand and He would sit down with them and say, "now let’s talk about this".
Jesus would then remind the Palestinians that the Jewish people have a covenant with God which gives them the right to live on all the Land of Israel — from the River to the Sea. He would ask the Palestinians to honour that covenant, and then he would encourage both parties to live in peace with each other.
Incentives and sanctions
I have no difficulty with Gerrard Eckhoff (Opinion ODT 9.6.25) expressing strong views even if they are poles apart from my own. I do have difficulty when his views are fanciful, serious exaggerations, or just plain wrong.
An illustration of the former is stating that the imposition of a capital gains tax (CGT) is akin to "demanding money with menaces (which) usually results in jail time"
He continues "It is the young and their future that CGT will ultimately destroy". An enormous exaggeration.
Again: "The hope of a comfortable retirement that is rendered inert by a CGT" . . . and further: "CGT therefore will ultimately destroy the incentive to work, take risks and grow assets"
By my reckoning, in excess of 150 countries world-wide collect revenue by means of a tax on capital. Can Mr Eckhoff show that social disintegration is rife on all or any of those countries due to their adoption of CGT?
It was a great agenda
It is time for a change all right, when a number of current Dunedin city councillors celebrate that they have left behind the "agenda" of the previous council and mayor Aaron Hawkins (ODT 17.6.25).
What did that agenda bring the city? The award-winning George St, enhanced community facilities, new Mosgiel pool, upgraded social housing, comprehensive kerbside recycling, protection for Foulden Maar, and much more.
Happily there is a mayoral candidate who would bring real change to the council.
Look out for Mickey Treadwell, Green candidate for mayor and a tech-savvy small business owner.
[Alan Somerville is a Green Otago Regional councillor.]
Column on Sparks knocked it out of the park
Bravo, Adrian Seconi. You have hit the nail on the head with your article on the Otago Sparks missing out on the team of the year award at the annual Otago Sports Awards.
Or, to continue your delightful cricket metaphors, you have played a perfect straight drive from the sweet spot of the bat, and it has scorched to the boundary.
For all the reasons you have given, the Sparks have indeed "been robbed." To win nine of their ten round robin matches, for goodness sake.
Imagine if the Highlanders did that: of course they would be our team of the year.
The Sparks were so far ahead of all the other teams, they were into the final before the other places were finalised.
Then on the day, they faced having to make a record score of nearly 300, thanks to a flawless century by Central Hinds’ Maddy Green, who appeared to have put the win out of the Sparks’ reach. Especially with Otago having three key players out with injury.
Their team work, resolve, courage and skill was breathtaking, and an emotional watch for their supporters.
As an ex-Otago cricketer (1961-76) and a member of the team when it won the Halliburton Johnstone shield for the first time, I could be regarded as somewhat biased, but I believe the facts Adrian has recorded speak for themselves.
I also wish to thank both the Otago Daily Times and Adrian Seconi for the very high profile you consistently give to women’s sport. It is without peer amongst news reporting in this country. And as a cricket lover, I can’t wait for the return of Adrian’s Notes from Slip each summer.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
