New Zealand Listener Issue 17 2018

Ironically, the one Government policy that may reduce the road toll could be one that was not intended to have this effect: the fuel tax. Most of us would agree with Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter when she says the number of fatalities on our roads is unacceptable. But just as New Zealanders may also agree that rates of child poverty are too high, it is far harder to find a consensus on the steps that should be taken to reduce casualties. Genter has said that the Government will investigate adopting a target of zero deaths and serious injuries on the roads. It will also no longer talk about the road toll, she said, but instead refer to the tally of fatalities as “road deaths”. Just as with child…

Ironically, the one Government policy that may reduce the road toll could be one that was not intended to have this effect: the fuel tax. Most of us would agree with Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter when she says the number of fatalities on our roads is unacceptable. But just as New Zealanders may also agree that rates of child poverty are too high, it is far harder to find a consensus on the steps that should be taken to reduce casualties. Genter has said that the Government will investigate adopting a target of zero deaths and serious injuries on the roads. It will also no longer talk about the road toll, she said, but instead refer to the tally of fatalities as “road deaths”. Just as with child poverty, neither setting…

The deeper mystery surrounding the Clare Curran-Carol Hirschfeld debacle (Editorial, April 14) is why two presumably intelligent people agreed to a breakfast meeting of this nature in the first place. Both women must have been acutely aware of the “rules” behind this type of prearranged get-together. That is the real puzzle. Trish Bishop (Hamilton) CHAIR OF THE BORED I disagree with Bill Ralston–I don’t believe there will ever be equal numbers of men and women in the boardroom (Life, April 7). I don’t think many women are going to prefer the endless company of their bored-room companions to that of their children. Women are underrepresented in high-powered, stressful jobs because they prefer to do the most important, although worst-paid, job in the world. Helen Carver (Takapau) It’s good of Bill…

Caption competition THIS WEEK’S PICTURE FINALISTS Angela Merkel: “Trump asked me when he could meet the hot PM from Isisland.” – Paul Kelly, Palmerston North Merkel: “You don’t have a twin named Jacinda, do you?” – Sorrel Bovett, Kerikeri Katrín Jakobsdóttir: “Yes, Jacinda and I each took only a month to put together a three-party coalition.” – Roger Reeves, Palmerston North Merkel: “And when Katrín thaws out, she might like to comment.” – Anne Norris, Auckland Merkel: “Deal–you’ll eat my coalition partners and German soccer fans will do the Viking chant.” – A Neale, Nelson Jakobsdóttir: “Visit Iceland and you can have a whole range of different coloured jumpers.” – Kath Jones, Waikanae Merkel: “We’re making Trump eat his words with Iceland’s weapon of mass dentition.” – A Neale, Nelson Merkel:…

The deeper mystery surrounding the Clare Curran-Carol Hirschfeld debacle (Editorial, April 14) is why two presumably intelligent people agreed to a breakfast meeting of this nature in the first place. Both women must have been acutely aware of the “rules” behind this type of prearranged get-together. That is the real puzzle. Trish Bishop (Hamilton) CHAIR OF THE BORED I disagree with Bill Ralston–I don’t believe there will ever be equal numbers of men and women in the boardroom (Life, April 7). I don’t think many women are going to prefer the endless company of their bored-room companions to that of their children. Women are underrepresented in high-powered, stressful jobs because they prefer to do the most important, although worst-paid, job in the world. Helen Carver (Takapau) It’s good of Bill Ralston to explain to the Minister for Women…

“I wish I could love, but I’m from New Zealand where it’s considered a mental illness.” – Taika Waititi “I’d hate to choreograph an opening ceremony. All that work, all the painstaking planning, and then you’re upstaged by an unintentional brown eye.” – broadcaster Scotty Stevenson “I carbload every night in case I want to run a marathon the next day. I never do, but it’s good to have options.” – US comedy writer Karen Chee “I thought silver is not too bad a colour. But I hung in there, put a bit of pressure on and see where it took me. I’m really proud of my patience and stubbornness.” – gold-medal bowler Jo Edwards “Here’s a list of reasons why you should love a Muslim: Muslims invented coffee. There’s…