Letters to the Editor: elections, Ardern and rail

Otago Daily Times

3 days ago

Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including engaging in the process of elections, the effects of Ardern's decisions, and where are our railcars? Candidates need to engage with all of us
As the Dunedin local body elections draw nearer, voters are beginning to engage in the process by asking questions, challenging ideas, and seeking clarity from those who wish to represent them. It's democracy in motion.
That's why it's deeply concerning to see some new candidates already blocking members of the public. They have even admitted to blocking current councillors from commenting on their social media pages.
Debate, disagreement, and dialogue are not threats to good governance, they are essential ingredients. Cutting people off from that conversation erodes transparency, reduces trust, and raises serious questions about how some of these individuals would behave once elected.
I initially had high hopes, which have unfortunately now been dashed against the wall.
If candidates can't handle fair questions now, how can we trust them to stand up for us around the council table? Will they ever be open and transparent?
Of course, no-one should tolerate harassment or abuse. But asking about policy, track records, or inconsistencies is not abuse. It's civic engagement.
Let's hope all candidates recommit to open dialogue (by unblocking those with genuine questions) and model the respectful, accountable leadership our city needs.
[Abridged — length. Editor.] Taylor vs Ardern
Whether Jacinda Ardern was sincere, or someone cynically only "signalling virtue" all along, as Ian Taylor implies ( ODT 4.7.25), she was, of course, just a flawed individual.
Nonetheless, Ardern carried the projections of millions when she became a living symbol of kindness and compassion.
Whether Ardern was duping us or not, she spoke to the best part of our human nature, and the best part responded, if only for a limited time.
Atrocities continue to shock and outrage this better part of us, no matter what our politics are. Cynicism aside, maybe the time really is ripe for "a different kind of power" to finally start prevailing in this world.
If we're ever lucky enough to see it coincide and shine like that again, why not truly honour and value it next time, rather than just trash it?
Sir Ian Taylor has taken a long time to come to the realisation that Dame Jacinda Ardern had another agenda the whole time.
The nation is seemingly divided between those that believe that a damehood was not enough reward, and those that never want to see or hear of her again. And that is fine. Each to their own.
What really matters is evidence and that is clear by the actions of the small group leading the Labour Party at the time of the Covid event. Ardern needed to be in control and that meant controlling the media from the podium of truth, the installation of the narrative of only her and her team could save us all from thousands of bodies stacked up in emergency morgues all over the country.
If that meant a few people couldn't be with their families at times of death, a few couldn't get treatment for cancer because the hospitals were being kept in readiness for the thousands that never showed up – that was just collateral in the big vision.
Ardern is now living a privileged life overseas in academic communities that have their own ideological aims that align with her own. She is isolated from the effects of the decisions that she and her small team made. She is now free to peddle her carefully selected narrative and to appeal to those who might need someone to lead them without thinking too hard
[Abridged — length. Editor.] Well, can we have our railcars now please?
In 2022, after extensive research, I presented Parliament a business plan on passenger rail. The plan has become influential in moving the narrative from hand-me-down and patch and mend to strongly arguing for investment in a new fleet of multiple unit railcars for all New Zealand, but most importantly for the Christchurch-Dunedin and Invercargill service.
Political parties now see potential in restoring passenger rail to the South and it is a matter of when, not if, before intercity rail returns.
And yet ... as ever I am assailed by voices bemoaning the cost and claiming it is a waste of money to invest in passenger rail. My reply is thus: we have already paid for new trains. The only issue is they are serving Wellington and Auckland.
Both cities have received 178 new trains funded by central government over the past decade. Based on the economic contribution of the South Island, 22% of GDP, each and every taxpayer on the South Island has paid for 39 brand new trains.
We only need three trains to provide four return journeys a day between Christchurch and Dunedin, with one service going on to Invercargill. Based on accepted utilisation rates and an expected sub five-hour journey time, two modern multiple unit railcars can do three segments a day, one railcar two segments. Four trains can provide a spare for contingency.
Four trains. That's it. We've already paid for 39. Can we have ours, now?
We've earned the right for passenger rail in South through our hard work and contribution to New Zealand.
Why cut off our nose to spite our faces to bemoan the cost of four trains when Auckland and Wellington get so much more?'
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