Woodhouse memoirs are eagerly awaited
Your "Waikato medical school folly" editorial (ODT 4.11.24) correctly critiques the current National Party-led coalition government's efforts to establish a third medical school at Waikato University, but it possibly fails to join all the dots.
The question that needs to be asked is "Has the National Party ever been committed to building a new Dunedin hospital to the standard required to be a continuing teaching hospital connected to the University of Otago Medical School?" I think the answer will be shown to be no.
The proposal to build a new hospital in Dunedin was announced by the National government at the beginning of the nine years they were in power from 2008, during the whole three terms of which Michael Woodhouse was the list MP, resident in Dunedin and who held various ministerial portfolios.
During that time Mr Woodhouse was often criticised by Dunedin residents for not promoting the building of the new hospital but he was later volubly critical of the slow progress, cost escalations and scaling back of the specifications by the Labour government for the hospital build.
Before the 2023 election the leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon, made a brief visit to Dunedin and delivered a promise which has been indelibly imprinted in the minds of Dunedin, Otago, Central Otago and Southland residents, that if elected, National would build the new hospital to the Labour cabinet approved business case specifications.
Then immediately before the 2023 election Mr Luxon announced his party rankings for parliamentary candidates and Mr Woodhouse dropped severely to a ranking which would probably not see him gain a seat in Parliament. The question surrounding this is whether Mr Woodhouse was dumped by the National Party because they never had any intention of building a contemporary teaching class hospital in Dunedin and they would remove a sitting Dunedin MP and pursue the establishment of a third medical school at Waikato University?
I guess we will have to wait to see if Mr Woodhouse goes into print with his memoirs to find out the answer.
Trevor Croot
Kenmure
I protest
Along with many other law-abiding citizens sneaking in just before the deadline, I have just paid my 2024-25 ORC rates. I note with interest, and some alarm, that $29.05 million is needed for "Regional leadership". By my calculation that amounts to just over 23% of the total cost.
However, since leadership has been conspicuously lacking from ORC, I wonder if there is some mechanism which enables me to claim back 23% of my total rate by way of protest?
Phil Thirkell
Wanaka
Moral compass
I recall being told that all the petty vandalism and anti-social behaviour just requires a old-fashioned in public kick up the backside because somehow humiliation fixes everything.
On reading Bill Verrall's ODT contribution (Opinion 30.10.24) we seem to reward people of power for anti-social behaviour who abuse our tax system through political interference. I am not saying they should be publicly humiliated but for their own personal growth they should never be rewarded with money and power.
Yes we have to please US politicians in order to trade with them but we would do well to not follow their horrible moral habits and follow our own compass, especially when it comes to funding deadly violence, humanity's greatest anti-social shame. Leaders should lead from the front with the brave people and never steal money from the public purse. That humiliates all of us.
Aaron Nicholson
Manapouri
We simply cannot thank everyone enough
Thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to have a wander through our recently renovated home, the former Coach and Horses, in Fairfield, over the weekend.
We had 642 people visit and it was great that some people were able to share their own personal stories relating to our home.
By supporting us you helped us raise at least $1784 for the Otago Community Hospice.
Penny and Brian Turner
Fairfield
May I, through your column, convey my deep appreciation to all the Kyeburn, Naseby, and wherever folk who invited me and my family to the unveiling of the restored monument in the Kyeburn Cemetery on Sunday (3.11.24).
The thoughtful dedication of these people over four years to raise funds reflects their stubborn determination.
To help unveil the memorial with my sister was a very unexpected honour.
So, a huge thank you to all the families — especially David and Glenys Crutchley — who hosted us to this restoration of an 1891 memorial.
Margaret Anderson
Oamaru
Thanks you are not enough words to say how much I appreciate all the doctors and nurses in the radiation and oncology departments that I have had over the past few months (and more time to come).
They have all been friendly, pleasant, cheerful, helpful, caring, respectful, understanding and welcoming. No matter how any patient must feel, the staff helps put a smile on their face.
Brian Andrews
St Kilda
Your terrorist is some other’s freedom fighter
So according to Chris Trotter (Opinion ODT 25.10.24) it's all the Palestinians’ fault for not wanting their country signed over to invaders and divided up, to their detriment with no civil rights in their own country
My country, Scotland, fought against the invaders that today a freedom fighter like William Wallace would be a terrorist. Then came the clearances.
There were the Irish freedom fighters who suffered many massacres at the hands of the invaders culminating in the so-called potato famine.
Maori freedom fighters who fought for their rights fared better than the North American, Australia's and other indigenous races.
So nothing has changed now the Israelis are committing all of the above plus. What is happening in Gaza and West Bank is a disgrace: it is about time the world stood up to acts of genocide.
Angus Macdonald
Roxburgh
[Abridged — length. Editor.]
Worth a try
I agree with Mark Wallace (Letters ODT 30.10.24) in that the Zionist Israelis’ literal interpretation of the Bible on the total occupation of Israel by Jews will never be shaken. As well, I agree that Palestinians will never willingly give up their land. Also, as he says, it is obvious military superiority is most likely to win. However, Jewish Israelis’ strength is totally prefaced on arms supplied by the US, which itself is primarily concerned with furthering its own interests in this region.
Also, the lack of backbone of other nations such as ours to enact multi-faceted boycotts of Israel to level the playing field has to change. This is a genocide the United Nations could literally stop in its tracks if all nations worked together.
Would a perpetual UN buffer zone as Wallace suggests be feasible? It seems to me that one non-apartheid state is the only answer where both groups can begin to flourish as equals. It worked in South Africa, why not in Israel?
Jenny McNamara
Gore
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
