Up off our knees, it is time to stop begging
Why is it that other major cities in New Zealand only have to whistle to have their needs met while here in old Dunedin — the city that founded many of the businesses that other cities have since thrived on — has to get down on its knees and beg?
In Auckland, the greatest "need" is a second harbour crossing. Currently being debated is: will it be a second harbour bridge or a tunnel? No doubt our biggest city will get one or the other. No need to discuss funding, it’s practically automatic.
Similarly Christchurch’s "nice to have" stadium, government funded, but of course. Here in Dunedin, ratepayers are still coughing up for our covered sports venue.
In 2010 we had to go all guns ablazing to keep our neurology unit, and now we must do the same for our much-needed new hospital, which is not for Dunedin alone, but for the entire lower half of the South Island. Hardly fair, is it? And whom can we blame?
The Labour government, which promised the state-of-the art hospital, made a start, demolishing two city blocks of buildings, then started biting its nails due to the overall cost? Or the National government, which promised that on election our new hospital would be built as originally planned? Take your pick.
And we will march. All the way to Wellington if we have to.
Southern lives matter
Yes we all know that the new hospital is being built in Dunedin. However, everyone both north and south of Dunedin, from Oamaru to Bluff, needs to march together in unison.
We need to show this government that we will not just sit back and watch while they downgrade our future asset. We will fight for what is right, as if our lives depend on it, because our lives will depend on it.
All right for some
It seems to me that the only part of our public health system than is not underfunded is Dr Levy’s pay packet.
This is reportedly around $300,000 a year for doing only three days’ work a week.
Nice work if you can get it.
If it quacks like a duck
We already are paying a capital gains tax. It’s called rates.
Ask anyone who’s paying rates if it doesn’t feel like a capital gains tax.
Think of the pensioner who recently wrote about getting a $2 a week income tax cut and then having to pay $10 a week more in rates.
In America they call it property taxes. It’s a tax all right.
A lack of understanding
Comments made by the Early Childhood Council chief executive Simon Laube, referenced in John Gerritson’s article regarding a review of regulations for early childhood education settings (ODT 16.9.24), raise some huge concerns.
The most alarming being his total lack of understanding about what learning is and how children learn.
Early childhood kaiako do not "deliver" "educational content". Does he know anything about Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum?
This lack of understanding is particularly shocking given his influential role in the sadly growing profit-driven private ECE sector.
Please, we can be MPs zero, just for one day
I have had an inspired idea to improve your newspaper, which you may like to consider.
Once weekly you could publish an edition with no photos of politicians allowed in it.
No MPs or other national-level politician photos, no regional or city politician photos, no politicians’ pictures from any place in the world. I think many people would enjoy a break from seeing these all too familiar faces. You could still report political news, but just spare us the pictures.
I have no doubt that the talented ODT photographers could provide ample alternatives.
I look forward to perhaps receiving such a copy of the ODT very soon. I am sure it would be popular with many other readers, too.
Old faithful
In a small item (ODT 23.9.24) it was mentioned that the Dunedin City Council were putting feelers out regarding the purchase of automatic number plate recognition electronic devices. Whatever happened to the Mark 1 Eyeball ?
Speed limits hike fine but not on bends
Jack Crawford’s letter (ODT 21.9.24) rightly urges nuanced discussion of road safety issues, but I find his claim that the 40kmh speed limit from Glenfalloch to Company Bay is "ridiculous and counterintuitive" distinctly lacking in nuance.
This bendy stretch of road has seen a notable increase in population and car-ownership over the past 20 years, especially the short stretch at Mission Cove. Its bus stop lies between two sharp bends that limit visibility, and even with the present limit, passengers from Dunedin alighting there have to cross the road briskly or risk being run over. Those less agile or disabled are in real danger. It would be justifiable to fear for one’s safety if the speed limit returned to 50kmh.
In this and similar places along this stretch of road, why should reasonable car-drivers begrudge donating an extra minute or two of their life-spans for the welfare of more vulnerable others? Are motorists really more valued than bus passengers?
Higher levies
The one election promise we hope the government won’t keep is about reversing speed limits. Here’s some reasons: 1. The government required ACC to cut costs and this was done in the injury prevention unit. 2. ACC wants to increase levies (really a tax) because there are more claims. 3. Reversing speed limits will increase accidents and injuries. That means more claims and bigger ones. 4. That will mean yet higher levies.
At what point can we relieve the government of its responsibilities on the grounds of mental infirmity?
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
