Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was criticised for what he said at a Rotorua Business Chamber event. Maybe he just said too much. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography
Maybe PM’s problem was that he said too much
Thank you Liam Dann for reporting what Christopher Luxon actually said at the Rotorua Business Chamber event (August 9), rather than the last few words he used.
“Like we’re entrepreneurs and business people and I get it. You know, if you’renot retooling and radically disrupting your business, you aren’t doing the job.
“You know, you have to disrupt yourself aggressively before you get disrupted by global events, and if you keep thinking you want the same business model, the same customer mix, the same margin structure, you know you have got to be retooling and refinancing and rehoming, and that’s just the reality of business people around the world.
“So your job is to make sure I’m setting up the conditions for you to be able to create growth.”
Although the initial cost would be high, if governments paid for everyone who wanted to be vaccinated and screened, and encouraged those who were hesitant, they would likely save billions in hospital admissions costs as health issues would disappear or be caught at a very early stage to warrant day surgery.
Why hasn’t some smart politician thought about this policy of health issues prevention? Or do we have any smart politicians?
Marie Kaire, Whangārei.
Centrist approach
Voters should consider what would have happened if National had formed a grand coalition with Labour after the 2023 general election. Almost certainly:
Parliament would not have spent hundreds of hours on the Treaty Principles Bill;
The original School Lunch Programme would still exist;
The pay parity process would still apply;
The Free Trade Agreement with India would have moved faster;
Landlords would not be able to claim mortgage interest as a tax deduction.
Also, most probably:
Nicotine reduction targets would not have changed;
Treaty of Waitangi provisions in existing laws would not have changed;
Prescription charges would not apply to New Zealand residents;
Phil Goff would still be the New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
National and Labour should both consider how the nation would benefit from a centrist coalition for the next three years.
It is being reported what the leaders of our historically major parties will do if they “win” the election.
Do they not understand the nature of MMP or are they trying to mislead the public? Labour “won” the 2020 election solely on its Covid response.
MMP is a fairer reflection of how the people cast their party vote.
If Christopher Luxon thinks reversion to first past the post will result in better government then he need only look at the United Kingdom. Labour had little more support than in the previous election yet won. Nigel Farage very successfully split the Conservative vote, resulting in a party rising in power that the majority did not support.
Bruce Fletcher, Auckland.
All Blacks’ challenge
A 5am New Zealand start may not have helped the mood but the All Blacks’ performance on Saturday, albeit a win, looked pedestrian and jet-lagged.
Up until the 67th minute, when the score was 14-14, if player ratings had been assessed‚ Beauden Barrett’s 80-minute rating of 2 would have applied to many.
Our basic rugby “IQ” is under threat and our continued disarray and confusion under the high ball is among many so-called “work-ons” that need to be addressed.
First test Ellis Park, Johannesburg, awaits on August 23 (NZT) as does the brutality and ultimate challenge of playing rugby at altitude. In combination with the Springboks’ renowned physicality, a passionate home crowd of 63,000 and an unpredictible TMO, the odds are stacked.
Winning ugly takes on a whole new meaning.
Bruce Eliott, St Heliers.
Flaws were already known
I was amused at the headline that suggested the All Blacks’ flaws were exposed by the Stormers.
The All Blacks have had trouble with the high ball for years and seem unable to work out a solution. As for the scrum, it has been creaking away for years – even the Italians put the All Blacks’ scrum under pressure.
Admittedly, that was a B team that was on display but it is a concern at the lack of depth in the squad.
Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.
Off to Oz
Greyhounds are shown crated up ready for transfer to Australia after greyhound racing is shut down in New Zealand. Kiwi netballers are looking offshore as the prospect of no New Zealand competition looms.
Greyhound racing we decided to ditch,
Now Kiwi dogs are crossing “The ditch”,
Others contemplate that westward crossing,
Their future in this country outward tossing,
Now Silver Fern netballers may be forced to switch,
Of this trend we need sustained correction,
Through policy points in November’s election.
David Hopkins, Remuera.
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