Future of the refinery

The MBIE Aide Memoire dated February 28, 2022, titled “Implications of Refinery’s closure for fuel security”, contains the statement ”after the shutdown, only a small number of refinery assets will be preserved, and it will not be possible to restart the refinery again“.

That said, the NZ First coalition agreement requirement is to “investigate the reopening of Marsden Point Refinery”. Is the Minister for Racing betting on a sure thing?

The previous Labour government will be blamed by Peters for his inability to reopen the refinery.

Graeme Coutts, Karori

Not a fair comparison

Georgina Stylianou (November 27) described the National-NZ First-ACT coalition as the type of arrangement we see in a Scandinavian nation that ranks among the happiest in the world.

She didn’t say that government in the happiest nation in the world – Finland – espouses policies that bear little relationship to those of New Zealand’s new government.

In Finland, a country with a population of 5.5 million, there is a tradition of egalitarianism supported by comprehensive public services.

Finnish healthcare is ranked among the best in the world. There is support for mothers in the first five years of a child’s life and generous parental leave for mothers and fathers. Mothers or fathers can stay at home for up to three years with a stipend.

Schools promote equality in learning. University and technical schools are free of charge. There are benefits for people who are unemployed or have disabilities, a quality framework of care for older people and support for a wide range of cultural institutions, including libraries.

Of course, tax pays for this. Research indicates that 80% of Finns are happy to pay taxes that give them this level of support. I’d be happy too.

Merrill Coke, Petone

Survey says

Roads trump buses and cycleways in survey (November 30) tells the opposite story to the actual poll results, which show that people want 41% of transport spending on buses and cycleways versus 36% on roads.

If you add in trains at 22% then you can see the poll shows people in Wellington want 63% of transport spending dedicated to public transport and cycling. If this is how transport funding was actually allocated in Wellington we would be in a much different situation to the one we are in now.

We would be completing a full network of dedicated bus lanes and cycleways, investing in our bus and rail network to increase frequency, capacity and reach and starting work on new mass transit routes to support housing growth in the city.

I hope the popular mandate for transport funding priorities reflected in this very useful poll will guide the new government's investments in Wellington.

Cr Thomas Nash, Transport Chair, Greater Wellington Regional Council

Backwards thinking

I hope the present government will rethink their stated intention to repeal the smokefree legislation that has been widely admired, here and overseas, and would lead to a healthier New Zealand in coming years.

Christopher Luxon is concerned that the legislation will cost too much money to implement. Untrue! It’s not a cost but a potential loss of government income. Income generated by people buying tobacco. Luxon claims not to want people to smoke more, but if people smoke less there is less tax earned.

If you want more money, more tobacco must be purchased.

Clearly this government values shortterm money above long-term health of the people. And, frighteningly, there is no acknowledgement of which sector of the population disproportionately carries both the cost and the burden of ill health due to smoking.

Dr Vivienne Coppell, Mt Cook

Supermarket hack

Sometimes at lazier moments I buy “own brand” food products from a supermarket in New Zealand’s much loved duopoly. I’m shocked to see that their plastic packaging often says “bin only”.

As a protest, I deposit them in the soft plastics “return to store” bin in the same supermarket.

I realise this is unsatisfactory, but I hope that pressure will be put on them by shoppers to get their act together, all the more so in the likely pathetic absence of any initiative from our new green-averse government. A move like this is also far more likely to get shopper loyalty than some meaningless name-change on the part of the supermarket. Mark Stocker, Christchurch

Heartfelt story

I found Ina Stewart's story ( Award recipient hopes to advocate for others, November 29) both uplifting and tragic. That she spent 10-11 years “in care” with many many carers speaks lots about CYPS and Oranga Tamariki. One uptick is that Oranga Tamariki is sponsoring Te Ihumanea - Academic Go Better award. And she deserves it.

Having been “in care” many many years ago I appreciated that my grandparents stepped in so that my life was more stable than Ina’s.

My hope is that the new government’s “slash and burn” policy doesn’t include child welfare system, which needs help. Steve Farrow, Wilton

Helping hands

Over the weekend I visited Te Papa with my grandchildren. Unfortunately, while stepping on to the escalator on the ground floor, holding on to my 2½-year-old grandson’s hand, I lost my balance and fell backwards on the escalator as it continued to ascend. Within seconds the escalator stopped and several Te Papa staff (along with some kind, random people) helped my husband get me back on my feet. Fortunately, while in shock, my grandson and I were OK, sporting a few cuts, grazes and bruises.

A paramedic and a nurse aid and other Te Papa staff immediately attended to my needs with water, plasters and ice packs.

At least two of the Te Papa staff stayed with me for an hour while I recovered. I would like to say how brilliant all Te Papa staff who came to my assistance were and am relieved that if this sort of thing should happen again, the visiting public are in good safe hands.

Jan Gundersen, Raumati

Win for Seymour?

After a lengthy and arduous battle, David Seymour, who promised sweeping economic reforms and increased productivity, has had a remarkable victory; pseudoephedrine usage and charter schools.

Nicky Darlow, Te Aro

Non-productive asset

The newly minted leader of the house, Chris Bishop, told morning report that landlords should be allowed to deduct interest as an expense just like any other business. He failed to mention that rental properties are not just like any other business. They don’t get taxed on the capital gain on the asset providing the tax deduction, and as a “business” a rental property is completely unproductive.

Why does a government, who campaigned on growth and productivity, persist in incentivising investment in unproductive assets. No wonder the productivity commission is being axed. Janet Ziegler, Waterloo

What next?

The three kings have ordained that tobacco shalt not be made illegal. They claim that it will lead to the creation of a black market, and a loss of tax revenue for the government. The same effects could be said to apply, with regards to cannabis, but they prefer to leave that under the control of the black market, and forego the tax revenue.

Nigel Cairns , Waitarere Beach

A budget variation

I hereby present my mini-budget for the government’s consideration.

1. Remove GST from property rates and insurance and legislate, with penalties for non-compliance, that the resultant savings by landlords be reflected in reduced rents. Simple to implement, everyone is a winner, and will be favourably received. Removes the need for tax reduction.

2. There is a vast pool of investments in term deposits with Australian-owned banks held by risk-averse investors. These banks earn exorbitant margins on their interest income, which we see in their profit results.

Bring back municipal bonds as an investment offering interest rates attractive enough to entice these TD investors to transfer their holdings, and make these bonds government guaranteed. Funds would thus be provided for essential infrastructure. The bonds would have no fixed term, so repayment is not an immediate concern. There are too many problems and not enough solutions. Perhaps this will adjust the balance. Dennis Lahman, Raumati Beach