A 50:50 race or a battle for democracy
It was most intriguing to see the upcoming general election described in the Otago Daily Times ( 29.4.23) as a "50/50 race".
For the first time in many elections voters have a genuine philosophical difference between the two sides of the political spectrum, rather than just variations on the same policy themes. Labour and the Greens have shown by their words and deeds that they do not fundamentally believe New Zealand should be a democracy.
From former prime minister Ardern to incumbent senior ministers, they have made clear statements that they are not committed to maintaining our current democracy.
While everyone is entitled to vote for whomever they wish, those choosing Labour or the Greens should be sure to enjoy the experience, as they may be voting away their ability to do so again in the future.
Could New Zealand achieve the ultimate irony and vote itself out of being a democracy?
Alexandra Wastebusters
I was surprised and saddened to read of the impending demise of Alexandra Wastebusters. How can this be?
Zero waste is a goal governments have been talking about for years but progress towards reducing waste and making our economy circular has been at a snail's pace. The government have their hands on the levers at the top of the cliff but lack the courage to use them.
Meanwhile down at the bottom, the heroes like those who work at such enterprises as Alex Wastebusters work to make our economy more circular, one discarded item at a time. And they provide employment, community and resources to many of us at the same time.
How was this news "a surprise" to the Central Otago District Council? As our representatives, they should have been supportive of Alex Wastebusters, who are doing their work for them.
I really hope they can find a solution that doesn't involve a huge increase in waste to landfill in our area. Neither we nor the environment can afford that.
Burning oil
David Tranter demands to know why New Zealand has banned oil exploration and closed the refinery. Short answer: if humans burn all the oil we know about already the sea level will rise 60m. Not for a long time of course. In fact not until homo sapiens have disappeared — starvation and wars would see to that.
If there is a future it is renewable electricity generation and storage. Currently this is in the hands of people whose sole purpose in life is to make a profit, even to the extent of keeping the price of electricity up by wasting it.
Unfair accounting
In the Otago Daily Times Weekend Mix article (8.4.23) entitled "Climate of change’’, the authors say that New Zealand’s emissions are the highest per capita in the world. In my view their accounting is not accurate.
If our economy was based on the export of oil rather than the export of food, we would have one of the lowest per capita emission levels in the world.
Emissions associated with the export of oil are accounted for in the country that consumes it, whilst emission of food exported from New Zealand are accounted for in the country that produces it. Whilst in Asia the production of growing rice in Asia is not taxed.
Where is the fairness of all that? It is becoming more and more obvious that it is not a level playing field .
Dismay and disbelief over university’s plight
I have read with dismay that Otago is facing a huge $60 million budget blowout that is being blamed on a small decline in new student enrollments as compared to the university’s over-optimistic projections. This appears to be a too simple and convenient explanation and I suspect that poor decision making, policies and practices and the growth of administrative staff have contributed to this financial disaster. Since Otago is a public university supported in part by taxpayers, it is entirely appropriate that the government or the city of Dunedin should institute an inquiry by an independent panel of first-rate business people to establish how the university got itself into this mess and come up with recommendations to ensure that it is not repeated. The university should not investigate itself.
In the context of a $60 million "fiscal hole’’ and looming redundancies the spending of $700,000 on a new logo that the vast majority of the alumni don’t want, beggars belief. This is not only from a financial perspective but from the ludicrous decision to employ consultants when the university has world-class management and marketing departments.
A previous correspondent asked what the opponents of the proposed new logo were afraid of. I for one am afraid of the muddled decision-making at New Zealand’s finest tertiary institution and the headlong surge by some to affix a Maori label to everything they can think of, irrespective of the relevance of so doing .
However I am not nearly as afraid as those who appear to think that if they don’t buy in to this process they will somehow be banished to purgatory.
A PET scanner in Dunedin from day one
Doctor Mac Gardner (ODT, 2.5.23) seeks a PET scanner for southern patients "from day one’’ when the new Dunedin hospital opens in 2029.
In fact by 2029 a PET scanner will have been available in Dunedin for about five years, privately provided but publicly funded as all PET scanning in the New Zealand public health system currently is.
Cycle safety
As a cyclist I am used to being constantly alert to careless drivers on Dunedin's streets — parked car doors are flung open in front of me, vehicles turn in front of me or drive dangerously close as they speed past.
Mostly it is carelessness but often it feels aggressive.
Last Sunday on a short ride from the hospital to North East Valley I had to take evasive action three times, including when a car towing a trailer blatantly ran a red light at the intersection of Frederick and Great King Sts about 1.45pm.
It is hard to imagine what the driver can have been looking at, to miss a red light where other traffic had stopped and myself and a pedestrian were midway across the intersection.
It could have easily been a serious accident.
I wear a flouro vest, I have good front and rear lights on my bike, and I ride defensively.
I should not have to fear for my safety every time I ride my bike.
I appeal to all drivers of motorised vehicles to have more consideration for those of us on bikes.
When you do hit me, it's going to be your fault.
But I'm going to be the one who comes off worst and you are going to have to live with that.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
