National roads policy leaves South waiting
We have been waiting since 1899 for a road over Thompsons Gorge.
I would have thought a road of "national significance" opens competition for business and housing competition (ideals of right wing parties), or this may disenchant voters more likely to own land-banked properties that would be opened to competition by providing alternatives?
Alternative roading projects such as Crown Range Sealing, Falls Bridge replacement to Hanleys Farm, Southern Scenic Route sealing and the Manuherikia will have to wait.
Streets and super yachts
I am not sure what the carbon footprint of spending $26 billion, or $36 billion with the usual blowouts, on roads is, but I'm sure that scale of concrete, bitumen, and petrol and diesel machinery operating over 10 years is going to make that effect astronomical.
Combine this with letting farmers kick the "global boiling'’ can down the road for the foreseeable future and we have a criminally irresponsible, retrograde party which is happy for the world to burn or flood.
That is, as long as they and their wealthy supporters build their mansions in safe areas and have their super yachts ready for the quick getaway.
Roads and bridges
Is this another promise like the 10 bridges promised a few years back under Simon Bridges?
Unconscious racism
Susan Hall (ODT, 28.7.23), attempts to provide evidence of racist systems or structures, however, the study quoted never equates racism with institutional discrimination. What’s clear is that health may correlate with racism. It is not rocket science that any negative effect on a group will affect their health.
Both authors research ethnic inequalities, labelling it as such, not as racism. So called "white supremacy" does not, by itself, embody systems and structures that are intrinsically racist, they can be discriminatory, which may result in negative outcomes for a group, this does not equal racism.
The study contains some evidence for, and concludes, positive bias and positive discriminatory systems may be needed, to facilitate the proper resources, to balance fairness for all.
As for "unconscious racism", if you look it up, after many supposed tests, there’s no scientific evidence of its existence. That false doctrine has gone the way of the flat earth.
The loudest in the room
Aaron Hawkins has said, "Like many before them (and sadly more to come) the University of Otago will decide today whether to back their work with mana whenua or buckle to the pressure of white supremacy". This is a black-and-white fallacy, that those who do not actively choose mana whenua are by default choosing white supremacy. This false dichotomy ignores that there are other options. Further your use of the term "white supremacy" is an emotionally loaded putdown of those who might not agree with you. In your reply (ODT 15.7.23) you assert, without evidence, that the inequalities in the health system are caused by systemic racism. This assertion too requires evidential support.
This entire issue is an excellent example of the degeneration that the democratic process has suffered. Instead of intelligent, rational discussion, we have people like you who "win" arguments by being the loudest and through constant, neverending emotional manipulation.
Polite, civil discourse on health issues
I presume Lyndell Kelly (Letters, 31.7.23) includes me as one of the correspondents who implies that the worse health outcomes for Māori and Pasifika are their own fault (Letters, 19.7.23).
What I did was to outline my own experience gained from a long surgical career to help people understand the problem.
I did not say that the bad health outcomes were directly their own fault.
I agree with Dr Kelly that the reasons for these poor outcomes need to be investigated and addressed by intelligent people.
She has partly answered that question.
But where I totally disagree with Dr Kelly is that she encourages the blame game.
The white male-dominated health service has always strived to treat all comers based only on need and has served New Zealand well over the years.
Sure understanding of the way indigenous people think needs to improve and will do so as more health workers of their race enter healthcare.
And finally Lyndell there will be no insults or abuse from me.
One voter who gives the govt a pass mark
No-one can deny the continuous stream of significant events that the current Labour government has had to face since coming into office.
While responding to these major global and national crises they have initiated major projects, upgrades and updates to bring our public institutions, infrastructure and public services to the standard the public is entitled to expect, while using our state machinery and our public money to provide protection, support and security for all New Zealanders wherever they land on the social spectrum, which is precisely what our government exists for.
Like many individuals who have experienced in our bizarre post-post modern environment of personal, social, economic and professional sabotage, there is a significant toll on individual homeostasis when demands become overwhelming and intent to injustices are the norm of institutional clique behaviours.
That said, I would give the Labour government an 85%-90% for their efforts since being in government and believe that they deserve another term to get the projects they have under way, that have been hindered by major events, to fruition — new hospitals, major infrastructure, disaster repairs and rejuvenation, healthcare, education etc.
There is nothing wrong with people moving about, changing position or pursuing the challenge of variety as it provides energy and stimulus.
Hire a consultant
Dear me. It looks as if the cash-strapped University of Otago will need to hire more consultants to help it manipulate its way through the fallout of spending so much on consultants. It’s enough to make a sensible person’s head spin.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
