 
 Bring on the tax charter 
  
THE British statesman Edmund Burke once reflected that "to tax and to please is not given to men". True as that is, the 
tax authorities should be able to do their job a thousand times better than they managed in their 14-year battle with 
Auckland business couple Murray and Jan Willis. 
Their case was appallingly handled. No public servant should assume the right to ride roughshod over the public in the 
way the Willises experienced. There should clearly be more robust checks and balances in place in the Inland Revenue 
Department _ first to ensure it gets its facts right, and then to eliminate arbitrary tendencies in the exercise of its 
sweeping powers. 
Those checks are still inadequate, even though the department has taken steps to lift its performance following searing 
criticism from a parliamentary inquiry last year. This is evident from the unreserved apology and offer of compensation 
which acting commissioner John Perham extended to the Willises before a parliamentary committee this week _ only 
two days after he had written disputing their version of events and rejecting any claim for compensation. 
Embarrassingly, he had to admit he had learnt some crucial details only as he listened to the Willises at the hearing! 
Back at the office he should demand to know why he had not been fully informed, and fur should fly. 
The department subjected the Willises, who ran an engineering firm employing up to 400 people, to an intolerable 
ordeal. They asked the department and ACC what ACC levy they should pay, paid $110,000 accordingly _ and then 
were told it was not enough. Assessments were made, penalties mounted, correspondence flew _ or rather, crawled. It 
took the department three years to reply to some letters, though eight to nine months was more usual. 
The crunch came when the Willises received a letter telling them that unless they paid $100,000 their company would 
be wound up. A copy of a letter on IRD files shows they were told they could appeal, but that detail was missing from 
the letter the Willises received. That deception indicated vindictiveness on the part of an IRD employee. The poor 
Willises paid _ again. 
Three years later the department advertised a winding-up order, which effectively killed the business. Three years later 
again a review found that far from the Willises owing the department, the department owed them $83,446. It took 13 
months to pay. For the tax officials it was all just another day at the office, but their botch-up cost the Willises years of 
anxiety, health, their business, and about $1 million in interest, legal fees and lost income. It is a deplorable saga. 
Their experience bears out the parliamentary inquiry's dissatisfaction with the department's culture a year ago. Among 
its recommendations was a taxpayer's charter setting out what taxpayers have a right to expect. A sample charter 
included: "We will treat you with courtesy and respect. We will provide competent, timely and consistent service. We 
will respond promptly to your letters and telephone calls." 
It is time the IRD adopted such elementary courtesies. 

 
 
 Embrace wealth 
  
SIR, _ Tony Orman (November 6) is accurate enough about our economic woes, but he blames privatisation and the 
free market. Take note: the free market is not to blame. 
New Zealand has only itself to blame for this shambles. We embraced the free-market concept in the 80s, but our 
implementation has been less than adequate. 
There are three key points here. 
First, New Zealanders do not embrace wealth and success. In fact, we see these ideas as greedy and selfish. To be 
wealthy and prosperous, you have to embrace wealth. You do not have to destroy communities to do that. 
Second, when have we ever offered overseas companies real incentives to start up shop here and employ New Zealand 
brainpower? People complain about profits going offshore. Wake up! We sold Telecom, but we did not market 
ourselves to the Americans. If New Zealand is such a great place, why are we not using that economically? 
Third, we have a number of over-paid, under-performing managers. A manager on a big salary who does his job 
properly is different from one who abuses his position. If you perform thoroughly, you deserve the money. If not, you 
go without a penny. 
We do not need to return to the 70s just because we made a hash of free-marketing. The free market can be of national 
benefit, but we have to do it right. 
A. SHIRTCLIFFE 
Karori 

 
 
 Narrow view 
 
 
 
Sir, _ I might have enjoyed the article on Hong Kong (November 11) if it hadn't been for the narrow-minded 
philosophy, which read like propaganda for the Business Roundtable. 
It's good that Kiwis can find a life in Hong Kong, as they often do in Australia and other parts of the world, but there is 
no reason to rubbish those who stay here. The implication is that New Zealanders as a whole should take up residence 
in Hong Kong so that we can all be winners. 
It is probably easier for well-motivated people to be winners in Hong Kong. The idea that they do so because they are 
not restricted by government suggests that they are also people with little social conscience. 
To blame the Government and pour scorn on the rest of us does not show them up as winners. It shows a distinctly 
narrow-minded view of life and people. 
BOYD GLASSEY 
Wellington 

 
   Sorry world 
  
Sir, _ Re: Singled out (November 8). Oh for the power of the princess, just a complaint, no questions, and off with his 
head. Whether interaction between a man and a woman is sexual harassment or normal human sociosexual conduct is 
entirely in the eyes and ears of the beholder. 
One woman's loathing is another's smile. What a sorry world we live in _ where we are encouraged and legislated upon 
to ignore each other. 
However, rest assured Ms Kingsbury, New Zealand isn't that far away from your favoured approach to the treatment of 
male nuisance. We have a Domestic Violence Act that does not require substantive evidence from a woman against a 
man to effect 26 weeks of feminist rehabilitation at a "living without violence" programme; or to alienate him from his 
children or indeed to have him incarcerated. 
As well, we have the Law Commission pushing to enshrine in law the defence of battered women's syndrome in cases 
of murder. The apparently abusive partner will, of course, not be able to complain. 
We also have pending legislation to penalise men through divorce settlements for alleged misconduct and a guilty-till-
proved innocence slant to sexual crimes. Add to this the continuing denigration (without facts to justify such) of men in 
general when child and domestic abuse and other social dysfunction is discussed, and, yes, we do have food for 
thought. 
MAX THOMAS 
Raumati 

 
Dyson by-election 
  
 
 
Sir, _ With the status of members of Parliament being at an all-time low, it comes as a further blow to public opinion 
that an esteemed member of the House of Representatives drinks and drives. 
Regardless of party lines, the drink-drive issue calls for our MPs to be excellent role models. Ruth Dyson has let the 
side down, not only by making an enormous error of judgment and breaking the law, but also by rendering herself a 
less effective MP. 
How will Ms Dyson service the interests of her electorate? Surely the people of Banks Peninsula must be given the 
opportunity to reconsider their choice of representative. 
A by-election is therefore the only course of action for Banks Peninsula. To draw this line in the sand is an appropriate 
way to bring honour back to our parliamentarians and set a higher standard than that set by Ms Dyson and Helen Clark. 
WAYNE MARRIOTT 
Timaru 

 
Cullen report 
  
 
 
Sir, _ You misreported me yesterday in a front-page teaser to the extended interview you ran of me in the features 
section as saying: "I know I'm right." I never said it, and it is not reflective of my attitude in the interview. 
I have no problems with the article itself, which I thought was fair, accurate and balanced. 
MICHAEL CULLEN 
Finance Minister 

 
Protection racket 
  
Sir, _ I was astonished to read R W Plume's letter (November 9) about trick or treating being "a question, not an 
ultimatum". We are told that only relatively recently it has become a threat instead of offering "interesting or amusing" 
entertainment. 
What then are we to make of the Encyclopedia Britannica telling us that the treats originated in ancient times as 
offerings to prevent demons destroying crops? This eventually became "mischief-making by boys and young men", 
which took such forms as overturning sheds and outhouses and breaking windows. 
It seems to me that, from the very beginning, this was and still is a protection racket, plain and simple, and children 
offering an interesting or amusing party piece is a recent and inconsistent innovation. 
GRAEME CARLE 
Hataitai 

 
Heeney hard as rock
 
 Tom Heeney, in a Maori cloak, before his world heavyweight challenge at New York's Yankee Stadium in 1928 
  
SIR, _ Many of your readers would not agree with Ron Palenski's comparison of Tom Heeney's attempt on the 
heavyweight crown to David Tua's challenge. 
Heeney earned his crack at the title by defeating Jack Sharkey, who would later become world champion. 
He hit the incomparable Gene Tunney so hard during the fight that Tunney retired immediately afterward and never 
fought again. 
Heeney was not called "the Hard Rock from Down Under" by the American press for nothing! 
JOHN A. RUSH 
Wainuiomata 

 
 What's in a game 
  
 
IT has been said that the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. Now the British Government has issued a report 
which suggests that this violent society probably has its origins in the party game of musical chairs. As the report sagely observes, the 
party game is so intensely competitive that it is always won by overblown lunkers with uncaring body language rather than the petite 
and reserved. It suggests the eminently politically correct alternative of musical statues. 
Many policy lessons will emerge from this startling analysis. By the 2007 Rugby World Cup rule changes can be expected that will 
prohibit forwards from tackling backs. The commissioner for children will no doubt engage consultants to examine urgently "the 
adverse social conditioning effects of all known party games and related recreational activities", from hopscotch to bobbing for apples. 
It is not hard to guess what the findings might be. Pass-the-parcel would undoubtedly be targeted as a game redolent with dire social 
connotations. By repeatedly rewarding those who offload the parcel, leaving it to others to do the work of untying the string when the 
music stops, this game sends an unfortunate message about personal responsibility. It also leaves open the possibility of bribery and 
corruption by working in collusion with the sound operator. Pakistani cricketer Salim Malik, newly banned from the game for match-
fixing, could well have been a bent parcel passer in his youth. 
Then there is pinning the tail on the donkey. Again, bigger children tend to dominate while tinier ones usually pin the tail down in the 
donkey's groin area. Might not this humiliating outcome leave them with a devastating legacy of ambivalent sexual arousal and an 
incipient tendency to animal cruelty? There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that aggressive mockery of the disabled has its origins in 
such crude Victorian charades as blind man's buff. 
Eventually, as Corrections Minister Matt Robson foreshadowed this week, children under five will be allowed to stay in prisons with 
their convicted mothers. The question of what games they will play will then become a challenging social conundrum. Unless a firm 
set of rules is decided upon, we must steel ourselves for alarming revelations that three-year olds are playing hide-the-hash-cookie and 
smuggle-the-file-in-the-fruitcake. With tots hardened in this way it will be only a small step to games of musical chairs where players 
are found dead between the chairs but "nobody saw anything". Apple bobbers would face unexplained drowning as a hazard of daily 
life. 
A promising indication of the innovative approaches that could make our playgrounds, parlours and prison cells gentler places is that 
just announced by the British Ministry of Defence. To save money it has instructed naval recruits in training to shout "bang!" when 
they "fire" a shell. Children playing kick-the-tin (who might otherwise become addicted to putting the boot into rubbish containers and 
eventually other people's heads) might now be counselled just to stand there and shout "clang!"
 
 Choice for parents 
  
 
 
SIR, _ Your editorial Breeding a disaster (May 16) holds the poor countries of the world solely responsible for their poverty and rapid 
population growth. 
Wrong. Throughout the world, lasting decreases in family size have not come about through government pressure (China is already 
revising its "one-child" policy) or high-minded restraint, but because parents have seen smaller families as a good thing. 
More than 100 years ago in the West, growing prosperity and the new demands of urban and industrial living led parents to favour 
smaller families. 
Many poorer countries have found economic growth and prosperity hard to achieve, importantly because the policies of rich Western 
nations, including New Zealand, have limited their development. They have had to continue to rely on labour-intensive farming and 
fishing, which demand large families. 
You find the "increasing imbalance between Europe and North America and the rest of the world" the most serious problem. Why? Do 
the rich, white nations have some inherent right to dominate the world? 
United Nations agencies seem to agree. Funded mainly by the rich West, they seem more concerned to tackle world poverty by 
promoting population limitation than economic development. 
BRIAN QUIN 
Otaki
 
 More misery 
  
 
Sir, _ I have been a smoker for the past 46 years and I try to live on the age benefit. 
I really could not calculate how much I have paid during that period in tobacco tax, but it could be as much as the cost of a wing in a 
hospital with a doctor and nurses. 
I therefore should not feel like a sponger should I need hospital treatment, though the time has come for me to stop due to the cost of 
feeding my habit. I will feel very miserable to have to do that. 
Giving up smoking, according to Annette King and Michael Cullen, will prolong my life: more utterly miserable years! 
Thanks a million, overpaid politicians. 
JOHN de GROOT 
Johnsonville
 

Cup support 
  
 
Sir, _ I wish to register my objection to the Government giving more than $5 million to the America's Cup syndicate. 
It has been obvious for the past four years that enormous amounts of sponsorship money, which might have been allocated to help 
sports with more contestants, were channelled to the last defence. 
It may be that too much money is made by parties other than boat builders and crews. This would explain the pressure on us to support 
the team or be accused of being "traitors" to the country. 
What rubbish _ there is virtually no other yachting here with boats and crews of that size _ it is a very minor "sport". 
I enjoy watching the young in their P class boats off Petone beach. 
P. M. LODGE 
Lower Hutt
 
 Swipe at monarch 
  
 
Sir, _ I could concur with E G Asher's appreciation (May 22) of Queen Beatrix, but I felt that your correspondent allowed his own 
political feelings to cloud the issue with this swipe at the monarchy. The letter in question ended: "Could one imagine a similar 
situation in London with Queen Elizabeth showing compassion and sympathy?" 
Sadly, Mr Asher, one can well imagine it. Some Londoners have had to experience similar devastation to the people of the 
Netherlands. There are media photos of the Queen, Prince Charles and other members of the family visiting those whose lives have 
been traumatised in London, not by fireworks set off accidentally but by the deliberate and murderous devastation of IRA bombs. 
Perhaps your correspondent did not have access to that media coverage at the time. I was working in London at the time of the 
Harrods bomb and other atrocities. 
Not only is there recent evidence of the royal family being concerned with the suffering of those injured in explosions, but evidence 
going back many years. As she visited one bomb site in World War II, the Queen Mother is well-documented as having said: "I'm glad 
we've been bombed, now we can look the East End in the face." Not just sympathy, but empathy and a real understanding of suffering. 
ALISON IRVING 
Whitby
 
 A lot to learn 
  
 
 
Sir, _ I quite agree with E G Asher (May 22). I thought the same thing when I saw pictures of the Dutch Queen comforting victims of 
the fireworks factory disaster at Enschede. In a similar situation in England, I couldn't imagine Queen Elizabeth showing such 
compassion and sympathy either, but I think Princess Diana would have done. 
The house of Windsor could learn a lot from European royalty, especially in terms of humility. 
M. FORREST 
Carterton
 
 Killing for fun 
  
 
 
Sir, _ I find the photo accompanying the article about deer hunting (May 22) quite offensive. 
I don't understand the ridiculous "sport" of shooting innocent animals, though I understand that culling is necessary in some areas to 
keep deer numbers down. 
To make a sport of it and to prove that you shot a defenceless animal really amazes me. I don't see the glory in it at all. I think this sort 
of exposure should stay in the pages of hunting magazines, etc, where we don't have to see or read about it. 
L. GREALLY 
Lower Hutt

19 Oct 2000
 
 Protection goes too far 
  
 
 
IN less than a century the whale has been transformed from just another ocean creature, caught and processed like any fish, to become 
the sacred cow of the sea. The once-respectable occupation of whaling is now denounced as evil, and "Thou shalt not kill a whale" has 
become the eleventh commandment. Creating limited sanctuaries for whales, then extending them, is a cause embraced with religious 
fervour. 
The tapu status of the whale will make it harder for South Pacific Forum leaders to take a comprehensive view when whaling issues 
surface at their meeting in Kiribati next week. New Zealand has long opposed the predations of commercial whaling, and there should 
be no pulling back from that. Plundering whales for the meat, oil, bone or ambergris on the scale of the past 200 years was 
unsustainable. With some species on the brink of extinction, the 1986 ban on hunting them came not a moment too soon. 
But the laudable goal of saving whales in general tips into absurdity when even the whiff of a whale sends their champions into a 
spasm of self-righteous indignation. Prime Minister Helen Clark showed signs of that when she denounced a conference of the World 
Council of Whalers, focusing on indigenous rights to whale sustainably, in Nelson next month. Not only did she forbid a ministerial 
press secretary to speak at the conference, but ordered the Maori Development Ministry, Te Puni Kokiri, to withdraw $5000 funding 
for a workshop on the whalebone cultural heritage. 
Though the imperative to save endangered whale species is not negotiable, a modicum of common sense in pursuing it would not go 
astray. For example, not a single whale will be saved by prohibiting Maori from salvaging the teeth or bones of whales that have 
beached themselves and died _ yet New Zealand law protects them as rigorously as if they had been hunted and harpooned. It should 
be possible to maintain the whaling ban while allowing Maori access to dead whales for customary use. That would not compromise 
New Zealand's condemnation of the hypocrisy of Japan in continuing whaling for profit under the guise of "scientific research". 
A broader view on the future of whales is essential. The longer the moratorium continues, the faster their numbers will recover, till in 
some locations they will themselves become a problem. That has already happened with the once-protected possum, now a menace to 
our native forests. The wild Kaimanawa horses require a periodic cull to keep them from destroying valued plant species. The 
protected fur seal has recovered from the mass slaughter of last century to become a nuisance, as seals from newly revived rookeries 
around Cook Strait maraud the hoki fishery and salmon farms. 
A burgeoning number of whales will in time put pressure on plankton and krill which other fish also depend on. Toothed whales, such 
as pilots, feed on fish and squid. The answer is not to treat them as the sacred cows of the sea but, once their survival is ensured and 
they become too numerous for environmental balance and sustainability, to permit a judicious cull. 

 
Victoria at risk 
  
SIR, _ No university, particularly if on a budget as tight as those in New Zealand, can be excellent in all areas; their reputations 
depend on having at least some activities that are internationally respected. 
The geology group and the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University have achieved that respect and have contributed 
disproportionately to the academic standing of the university's science faculty. Proposed cuts to their funding could damage Victoria's 
reputation. 
These activities also fulfil a role outside the university world. 
The Antarctic Research Centre has established a respected presence in the Antarctic, which not only is important in meeting New 
Zealand's official obligations under the Antarctic Treaty, but is a significant part of the personal network of scientists of world repute, 
whose importance in relationship with the rest of the world, and particularly America, should not be overlooked. 
We do not presume to tell the university how to run its finances, but these facts justify special consideration, both in the university and 
by the Government, of the need to maintain these well established and productive activities. 
DENIS McLEAN 
MERVYN PROBINE 
ROBIN WILLIAMS 
Wellington 

Pathetic excuses 
  
 
Sir, _ As if post-colonial stress wasn't bad enough, now Associate Maori Affairs Minister Tariana Turia is blaming the epidemic of 
diabetes on "lifestyle changes that have been forced upon our people" (October 5). 
Good grief, wake up Tariana, and stop looking for pathetic excuses! We all make our own lifestyle choices. Nobody forces you or 
your family to smoke, nobody forces you or your family to drink alcohol, nobody forces you into an unhealthy diet and obesity and 
nobody forces you not to get 30 minutes of exercise a day. 
How about fostering some individual responsibility or, dare I say it, collective responsibility from your whole whanau? 
J. STROOMBERGEN 
Karori 

 
More cars 
  
 
Sir, _ Council eyes privately built Gully road (October 10) suggests that Wellington Regional Council is planning a pre-emptive strike 
to outflank New Zealand's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (the Kyoto Protocol) and commitment to sustainable 
development (Agenda 21). 
By promoting the construction of a motorway through Transmission Gully, the council hopes to "reduce congestion", when 
everywhere else in the world, increases in road capacity cause increased traffic and more, not less, congestion. More cars mean more 
greenhouse gas emissions and even more unsustainable development. 
The solution to congestion would be to divert the funds for the proposed motorway into expanding the passenger transport network 
and services in the region. With more and better train and bus services, the Wellington region will be doing its part to meet New 
Zealand's international commitments. 
J. CHRIS HORNE 
Transport 2000 

 
Central tenet 
  
 
Sir, _ Kathleen Loncar (October 7) obviously hasn't done her homework. Catholics are required to accept the Pope's rulings only when 
he speaks ex cathedra (from the chair) on matters of faith and morals. 
Besides, the Pope has made no definitive statement as to the precise date of Jesus's birth. The fact we Catholics are required to believe 
is that Jesus was born, not precisely when. 
The 2000th anniversary is a chance to celebrate the central tenet of Chrisianity: that Jesus was born, died, rose again and changed the 
world. And why not celebrate it, along with all Christians, not merely Catholics? 
I suggest Ms Loncar examine her own level of credulity if she really believes Catholics to be as totally devoid of intelligence as she 
implies. 
KILIAN V. de LACY 
Waitangirua 

 
Loyalty programmes 
  
 
Sir, _ One way of reducing the cost of living would be to shut down retail loyalty programmes such as air points. These have become 
parasites on the retail trade. Every dollar spent on the wages and expenses of those operating these programmes, on their advertising 
and on the rewards is a dollar added to the price of retail goods. 
The original theory was that the few retailers involved would take enough trade from their competitors to more than offset the cost of 
their loyalty programme. 
Now that many large retailers are involved in one loyalty programme or another this theory is no longer valid. 
Indeed, as the competitive advertising between the various programmes becomes more frantic, so the surcharge upon retail prices 
increases. 
BRIAN HAYMAN 
Levin 

 
Value judgments 
  
 
 
Sir, _ Surprise, surprise! Chris Trotter (October 6) echoes Gareth Morgan (September 29) in damning Closing the Gaps. 
Both use Simon Chapple's Maori socioeconomic disparity paper, which rejects the Waitangi Treaty and group equity as valid bases for 
a policy because "these are fundamentally distributional value judgments". No true economist such as Mr Morgan can include value 
judgments, but that Mr Trotter should agree is amazing. 
Both have disregarded the fact that members of a social minority face humiliation and disrespect as part of day-to-day living. These 
attitudes are powerful determinants of the general quality of life. 
We are all human beings but Messrs Trotter and Morgan seem to have forgotten this. 
R. H. JACKMAN 
Palmerston North 

 
Funky facelift for our waterfront 

The lagoon area of the waterfront during beautification work. The Odlins building is in the background. 
  
 
SIR, _ Daily I walk from the Railway Station to Courtenay Place. I would like to congratulate Wellington city on the upgrade of the 
bridge across the lagoon. 
The whole area appears to be receiving a facelift with some funky designs, especially the blue lights that light up the bridge. It would 
be nice to see the old Odlins building upgraded, as it appears to be in such a poor state of repair. 
The work is improving our already beautiful waterfront. 
B. KNOX 
Tawa 

24 July 2000
 
 Stop this dithering 
  
FOR Finance Minister Michael Cullen, the attraction of a multibillion-dollar state superannuation fund is that it appears to promise 
certainty to those heading for retirement. The wariness which others display towards his evolving proposals is due to the belief that 
any such certainty would be so brittle as to be illusory. The difficulty Dr Cullen is having in trying to persuade even his coalition 
colleagues of the merits of his scheme is enough to make many wonder if he is on the right track. 
The brutal truth is that there is no certainty over retirement income except for what people save for themselves. It is tempting for 
politicians to try to provide state-assured certainty 50 years hence _ and that has an understandable appeal to many voters. But so 
much can change in five decades that no one can possibly rely on it. 
For example, where Dr Cullen has advocated ring-fencing a set proportion of taxes for superannuation and then, to overcome Alliance 
and Green objections to a dedicated income tax, siphoning off budget surpluses to build a fund, National counterpart Bill English all 
but promises to scuttle the fund. He points out that it would make more sense to use surpluses to repay debt, which would improve the 
Government's ability to pay superannuitants from future revenue, and to cut taxes so that people can save on their own account. 
As a feature article in Saturday's edition spelt out, the proposed fund would have to earn a consistent (and almost impossible) 7 per 
cent interest to offset the interest which the Government is paying on its debt. If returns dipped to 5.5 per cent, taxpayers could lose 
more than $10 billion over 20 years. 
It is impossible to envisage a half-century in which politicians could keep their sticky fingers out of a fund as massive as this one _ 
projected to grow to $50 billion. Some parties are bound to oppose investment money flowing overseas (though returns would 
generally be higher), and will instead see the fund as a nest-egg to boost regional development _ or sunrise industries, or the 
knowledge economy, or whatever happens to be the political flavour of the month. The losers would be those who paid the taxes and 
built the surpluses in the hope of a healthy, guaranteed retirement income. 
Politicians always find it easier to shoot down proposals intended to give certainty than to devise a scheme that will win cross-party 
support. Labour launched a contributory scheme in 1975, but National gazumped it with a tax-based (and unsustainable) alternative 
the next year. NZ First leader Winston Peters had a shot in 1997 with his compulsory savings scheme: the electorate resoundingly 
rejected it. At least Dr Cullen deserves points for trying. 
It is shameful, however, that after three decades of debate and change, politicians, who have their own taxpayer-funded gold-plated 
pension scheme, are still dithering. Their own scheme should be shelved in the meantime to give them an incentive to find a solution 
for the rest of us. Now that would be a good election platform for someone. How about it, Rodney Hide?
 
 Defining children 
  
 
SIR, _ The Government has just held a Child Policy Forum to develop a child policy. Ignoring the incredible facts that it didn't have 
one already, and that prominent people in the field such as the commissioner for children weren't invited, we are still left with the 
findings that: 
* The various departments don't have a standard definition of a child and that this needs to be regularised; 
* Children should be consulted in the process. 
This is earth-shattering stuff. Perhaps we could define children as those who behave childishly _ but that would require bringing the 
Beehive up to kindergarten standards and swapping parliamentary staff for childcare workers. 
Research has shown don't want their parents to separate and don't like learning at school. If these opinions are to be taken seriously we 
will have to forbid parental separation and reduce the level or amount of schooling. Otherwise the whole consultation process is a 
sham. 
Perhaps Parliament's first job should be to find someone adult enough to treat children as children, an idea that seems anathema to the 
current plethora of politically correct politicians and publicists. 
R. MURRAY 
Melrose
 
 Learn from Welsh 
  
 
Sir _ So the Maori Language Commission wants "the Maori language to have a status equal to [that of] the English language in 
primary and secondary schools" (July 18). 
The commission's reasons for wanting this are unclear. Learning the Maori language is an admirable social goal but it is difficult to 
see how it would benefit a career in the modern economy or contribute to the national prosperity. The priority for all Kiwi students 
must be a good standard in written and spoken English. 
If the commission fears for the future of the Maori culture, it should learn from the Welsh. Not only have the Welsh benefited 
immeasurably from having had a foreign language forced upon them but their culture has continued to develop. Fluency in English 
has freed them from their geographic boundaries and enabled them to participate in a wider world where English was and is the 
common language of education and commerce. Yet their culture flourishes in the spoken word, in music and even on road signs. 
If the commission merely wants more of us to speak Maori, then it could start by putting English subtitles on Maori television 
programmes. More New Zealanders may then begin to understand colloquial Maori without being concerned about the niceties of 
grammar and spelling. 
The Maori language may be important to Maori well-being, but it will never be the equal of English in the global economy and our 
academics should not dream of trying to make it so. 
JOHN BICKERTON 
Wellington
 
 Believe it or not 
  
 
 
Sir, _ Imagine if Wellington Airport's runway was extended to the south to accommodate Boeing 747s _ the long-standing safety 
concerns would be water under the bridge. 
Our international air freight could be landed right here with us earning the higher landing fees and Auckland to Wellington truck and 
trailer-related road carnage would accordingly be drastically reduced. Importers would save three days. 
But any such development would potentially enable British, United States and Japanese etc airlines to fly here directly, to the 
detriment of the lucrative but exploitive main trunk flights from Auckland and Christchurch "serving" overseas visitors to Wellington. 
And as in the past, domestic carriers will not support an extension project for selfish reasons. 
We really ought to employ the same Japanese state-of-the-art engineering team that created Kansai Airport out of deep water to serve 
Osaka in real new millennium style. This way we would receive an honest, non-political assessment, perhaps to the eventual 
advantage of our city. 
In common with the stadium, the advantages speak for themselves and we should expect that the mayor would lead the way on this 
one _ anyone placing any bets? 
R. ASKEY 
Wellington
 
 Sources wanted 
  
 
 
Sir, _ Can Jim Windsor (July 19) name the source of his information on the genetic engineering of Caulerpa taxifolia, its release from 
the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, measurements of its spread in the Mediterranean harming tourism, recreational activities and 
fishing, its effect on fish populations, devastation of coastal communities, crowding of indigenous marine flora, occurrence on the 
coast of California and in eel grass beds in a coastal lagoon? 
RAY DE ZYLVA 
Wellington
 
 Work of firefighters 
  
 
Sir, _ Lindsay Tisch (July 5) says Sean Hilleard is in error asserting that firefighters are "consummately professional" and firefighters 
save lives "often at great risk to their own safety". Mr Tisch, in denying the truth of both these statements, demonstrates his ignorance 
of firefighters and their work. 
His claim that 25 of the 42 hours a week are not being utilised is news to firefighters who respond to fires, motor vehicle accidents, 
civil defence activities, hazardous substance emergencies etc at all hours of the day and night. His claim that the commission has made 
several offers of pay rises for firefighters, but that these have been rejected in order to protect the status quo, is also news to 
firefighters and the union. 
The novel suggestion that firefighters undertake public education, enforcement of monitoring buildings and pre-incident tactical 
planning of individual buildings during the night hours would have some bizarre outcomes. Children back at school at 1am to receive 
fire safety education; trial evacuations of empty office buildings at 2am; building owners being summoned to their buildings at 3am to 
discuss defects in their fire protection systems. 
As far as last year's Court of Appeal hearing is concerned, the only thing astonishing about that was the commission's decision to take 
the appeal. It is doubtful that any appeal has been dismissed so peremptorily and decisively as the Court of Appeal dismissed the 
commission's appeal. 
The hourly rate of a senior firefighter with 20 years' experience is less than $12, not the $20 claimed by Mr Tisch. This is the same as 
firefighters were paid in 1990. 
DEREK BEST 
Secretary 
New Zealand Professional 
Firefighters Union
 
 Conductor missed 
  
  
 
 
SIR, _ What a sterile year for music this has been. The reason? No Franz Paul Decker concerts. 
For at least 13 years, we have been flying across to Auckland and Wellington for concerts conducted by this able, dynamic conductor. 
His absence is both a loss to the orchestra and to the audience. Let us all hope that 2001 sees his return to the podium in New Zealand. 
N. J. VANCE 
Victoria, Australia
 
22 Aug 2000

Cannabis law change danger 
  
 
 
NEW ZEALAND seems to be developing a split personality over whether cannabis should be sanctioned for use in our 
society. In the past week a patchwork coalition was formed to lobby for cannabis law reform; a Dominion-UMR 
Insight survey found that 60 per cent of New Zealanders favour either legalising the drug (19 per cent) or at least 
removing the criminal stigma (41 per cent); and a health report revealed its use to be rife among school pupils in 
Wairarapa and the Kapiti Coast. 
All that prompts some deeper questions. What is it about life today that turns so many people, younger and older, to 
drugs to lift them to a tolerable or pleasurable level of existence? At what cost to themselves or to the wider society? 
And perhaps most pressingly, do people who can use cannabis without apparent ill effects have any obligation to those 
who cannot, especially teenagers whose developing brains are particularly susceptible? 
A feature in Saturday's Dominion tells of a Tawa 14-year-old who said she smoked cannabis at breakfast, lunch and 
dinner. Four or five in her class of 30 were heavy users. Half her class had tried it. Getting it was no problem _ her 
parents grew it. 
Hutt Valley Health's survey of 4000 pupils aged 13 to 17 shows that the Tawa girl's story is not unusual. It found that 
one in five 16-year-olds in Wairarapa and the Kapiti Coast regularly uses cannabis and nearly half the age group has 
tried it. Northland has long had a reputation for high cannabis use, and the West Coast of the South Island has shown a 
similar rise. 
If this is becoming the new norm, New Zealand has some stocktaking to do. When the existing tolerance of alcohol use 
(still the leading drug of choice among young people) is added to the growing tolerance of cannabis, the prospects for 
many of them dim markedly. Some lose the ability to concentrate and extend themselves. Some drop out of school 
early. 
Doctors warn that for a small number of users cannabis can cause acute psychosis. In pregnant women it can harm the 
brain of the developing foetus. Driving under the influence of either alcohol or cannabis is dangerous: combining the 
two is much more so. 
There is also a disturbing correlation between Maori pupils smoking cannabis and the finding in the survey that 56 per 
cent of Maoris say they have tried marijuana, compared with 36 per cent for the whole population. Its widespread 
acceptance in some Maori communities can only contribute to the "matrix of dysfunctionalism" highlighted repeatedly 
by Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia. Maoris who want to close the gaps could begin right there. 
The report on the schools shows they are not on their own. It is no wonder that principals who see pupils losing their 
way through cannabis use are among the most vocal in opposing any relaxation in the law, which they fear would make 
the problem worse. Their efforts to ensure that pupils make the most of their school opportunities should be buttressed, 
not undermined. They need a supportive community, but the opinion survey suggests that is eroding.
 
 In the wilderness 
  
 
SIR, _ The outgoing leader of the National Party, Jenny Shipley, confirmed by her attitude toward the Employment 
Relations Bill that the party is convinced it is going to spend many years in opposition. 
It is actually the National Party that exists in a Jurassic Park mentality _ the Employment Contracts Act was based on 
thinking that pre-dated Victorian England. If this political party could be elected (and I don't know how) and attempted 
to dismantle the new legislation to replace it with some other form of the Employment Contracts Act, the 1981 
Springbok tour ructions would be like a kindergarten Christmas party! 
The flight of the young overseas can be reversed once New Zealand has a democratic industrial relations climate and 
works toward a high-paid, full-employment policy where all workers are respected for their abilities and service to 
employers, and ultimately the nation. 
PETER PETTERSON 
Taita
 
 Use guns 
  
 
 
Sir, _ Now that the Waitara shooting incident has been addressed I will describe another incident that happened a few 
years ago. The main difference was that there was not any firearm involved. 
A police officer on night patrol was attempting to arrest an offender in a residential locality. Being unsuccessful he 
radioed for assistance. Two other officers also on patrol went to assist, but in the intervening space of time the offender 
absconded. Eventually the two other officers located the offender. One went to arrest and was overpowered, beaten and 
kicked into unconsciousness. The second officer, who had by this time radioed an emergency call, went to make the 
arrest, but was also overpowered, beaten and kicked into unconsciousness. Both officers were hospitalised with severe 
injuries. 
The point is that had these officers used a firearm, my daughter would not now be suffering permanent injuries that 
prevent her from continuing a career as a policewoman or any other fulltime occupation. 
Allow all police officers to use firearms in situations of self-defence. 
D. WALKER 
Dannevirke
 
 Good news 
  
 
Sir, _ In response to Another doctor joins the exodus (August 18). After doing some simple calculations we are happy 
to inform Suzanne Miles _ and anyone else paying $1000 per month on a $65,000 student loan _ that the loan will be 
paid off in seven years, not 15. 
BRYRE PATCHELL 
Inland Revenue Business 
Direct 
Wellington
 
 Refund likely 
  
 
Sir, _ Suzanne Miles (August 18) states that the $1000 per month she pays on her $65,000 student loan only just covers 
the interest, which would make it a rate of 18.5 per cent. A quick call to Winz (the IRD's phones were down again) 
informs me that students should be paying 7 per cent, which is less than most people pay for their mortgages, and 
considerably less than the average unsecured credit card. It is also a big over-payment difference to not notice for any 
length of time. 
If Dr Miles is able to get through to the IRD and inform it of the oversight regarding her interest rate she should be 
entitled to a hefty refund. She could also try suing her maths tutors. If she continues to make repayments of $1000 per 
month her loan should be repaid in less than seven years. She could invest some of the savings in remedial maths 
lessons. This could save a lot of bother, if, for example, a patient required 7 per cent of their liver removed. 
STEVE BURLEY 
Paraparaumu
 
 Keep track 
  
Sir, _ Given that Taffy Hotene has a personality disorder, was he assessed as a psychopath and treated or rehabilitated 
in prison? What leading-edge programmes are in place for psychopaths like Hotene? He obviously conned the current 
system with his participation in an Alternatives To Violence programme. 
How do we measure rehabilitation from psychopathic to "normal" personality? We are told that he had "gate fever" and 
was afraid of being released into the big wide world. Mandatory release after two-thirds of a sentence was made law to 
save money when incarceration costs $40,000 per offender per year. 
A Silence of the Lambs-type character like Hotene is unable to feel empathy and has literally one thing on his mind. I 
suggest that till rehabilitation is proven in violent sex offenders, we give them and us some form of security in public. It 
should be mandatory for electronic monitoring (ankle-bracelets) of psychopathic offenders outside the prison gates. 
MARTIN BURTON 
Waikanae
 
 Prove it or shut up 
  
Sir, _ I was raised to believe that a man was innocent till proven guilty, this principle of British justice to apply equally 
to prince and pauper. Sadly, this appears to be the case no longer. I also believe that trial by media is unacceptable to all 
fair-minded people. 
Hang Mark Todd by all means if you must when he is proved guilty in a court of law or admits his guilt, but why 
should he do that? Only a fool would hang himself, with the possible exception of ego-tripping politicians and the 
despicable media. 
Prove his guilt or shut up. The man has every right to remain silent. 
T. M. KEBBELL 
Dannevirke 
[Abridged]

20 Sept 00

    New kid on currency bloc 
  
 
 
THE prospect of a currency union with Australia _ or adoption of the United States dollar _ is not yet at the centre of New 
Zealand's political agenda. But it has moved a long way from the margins where it languished a year ago. 
For this, Prime Minister Helen Clark deserves much of the credit. Where in February she dismissed any thought of 
monetary union with Australia, saying she saw no merit even in debating the issue, she now intends to raise it in talks with 
her Australian counterpart John Howard next week. She also concurs that the greenback should not be ruled out of 
consideration, after Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton reminded his colleagues that in the longer term the greenback 
could be the sounder choice. 
This marks a sea change from the previous kneejerk reaction from politicians that New Zealand would be sacrificing its 
sovereignty if it made such a change. Comforting as it may be to have a kiwi on the $1 coin and Kate Sheppard on our 
$10 note, the trend toward globalisation is making it a sentimental luxury for minnow economies to hang on to their 
distinctive currencies. 
Perhaps Miss Clark's conversion owes something to her meeting with American investors this month. From the vantage 
point of New York, the kiwi looks less a symbol of sovereignty than a reminder that the best New Zealand can ever hope 
to be is a tiny player on the fringes of the big financial leagues. In the real world the "sovereignty" argument is diminished 
every day as traders sign contracts in US dollars. 
The present focus, however, is less on the US dollar than the Australian. Business sentiment, surveyed earlier, is running 
in favour of an Anzac dollar, and an opinion survey published this week shows 51 per cent of the public also backing a 
change. 
When Miss Clark meets Mr Howard, they will no doubt explore the idea in the light of a growing interest in such unions in 
Asia, and the possibilities it might hold for stabilising the economies of the South Pacific. 
A currency union or joint central bank would be a natural progression from the free trade arrangement with Australia _ 
which once also seemed an impossible dream. If the benefits are assessed as outweighing the downside, the two 
countries' shared interests and understandings make it seem the obvious choice. 
Too obvious, perhaps. Even if we were to merge our dollar with Australia's, the new currency would still be only a bit-
player, buffeted by the titans of the US dollar, the euro and the yen. Those are forecast to emerge eventually as the focus 
of three big world currency blocs. We should, as Mr Sutton and others have noted, consider whether to skip the 
intermediary step involving only the New Zealand and Australian dollars and move straight to the greenback. Whatever 
discussions lie head with Australia, that option should be kept alive. 
For a small trading nation in the global market, the key to prosperity is to make the most of every opportunity. When it can 
be shown that a currency change would have overwhelming advantages, then misguided jingoism needs to be thrust to 
one side. 

 
LTSA's taxi problem 
  
 
SIR, _ The Wellington branch of the New Zealand Taxi Federation is seriously concerned by the news item headed 
Capital's cabbies among the worst (September 7). 
This is partly because any report of taxi driver misbehaviour reflects on all drivers, the vast majority of whom are 
trustworthy, but mostly because taxi users should be able to trust all taxi drivers to take them to their destinations safely 
and without harassment. 
The Land Transport Safety Authority implies that the taxi industry is to blame for the problem, but this is not the case. It is 
the LTSA that is responsible. 
The authority issues drivers' licences and licences to operate taxi services and has the legal responsibility to ensure that 
only people who satisfy the "fit and proper" criteria, set out in the Transport Services Licensing Act 1989, enter the 
industry. 
It also has the responsibility of ensuring that taxi drivers, taxi operators and taxi organisations continue to satisfy the law 
that is supposed to protect the travelling public. 
It is clear that it has failed and that the promised "quality licensing regime" is a casualty of the failure. 
The LTSA has legal access to information about applicants and holders of drivers' and transport service licences, whereas 
taxi organisations' access is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act. 
A major objective of the Taxi Federation is to ensure that the travelling public is provided with a safe, efficient and 
affordable taxi service. 
The Wellington branch fully supports this objective and will cooperate with the LTSA and police to ensure it is achieved. 
GEORGE TYLER 
Wellington Branch, NZ 
Taxi Federation 

 
Major cringe 
  
 
Sir, _ M Bennett's comments (September 2) on the pre-match formalities of the All Blacks brings to mind my own major 
cringe. The sight of grown men waving their arms, sticking out their tongues and pulling faces in the direction of the 
opposition is demeaning to a great game and to our country. 
The haka is ugly, primitive and irrelevant in sport. Let's give it back to the Maoris and hope they have the good sense to 
hide it somewhere. 
R. L. LINDSAY 
Blenheim 

 
Not the Inquisition 
  
 
Sir, _ Your issue of September 5 contained an article from The Times of London on a Vatican declaration on the Catholic 
Church's attitude to the perceived shortcomings of other, non-Catholic religions. 
The source of the declaration is correctly identified as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. We are then 
informed that the Congregation was "formerly known as the Inquisition". 
In fact, the Inquisition was a disciplinary and punitive process used against those deemed to be heretics, and not the 
forerunner of the Congregation. This powerful arm of the Vatican was the Holy Office. 
I am appalled that the world's most prestigious newspaper should display such ignorance of historical fact. 
D. M. SHEPHERD 
Paremata 
[Abridged] 

 
Income inequality 
  
 
Sir, _ Tariana Turia does have a case. Societies can have centuries-long memories, as have the Irish (of Cromwell) and 
the Yugoslavs (of Ottoman Turks). Maoris remember land confiscations only 100 years ago and later _ not a good basis 
for mutual trust between them and Pakehas. 
Today, Maori income is the lowest in New Zealand. Low income affects both Maoris and Pakehas as individuals, but, on 
average, Maoris are the poorest. It is well known that poverty produces ill health and social misbehaviour. In addition, in 
developed countries such as New Zealand, relative poverty contrasting the rich and the poor is a powerful determinant of 
physical, mental and emotional health and the attitudes and actions associated with them. The poor suffer from this 
inequality, and the poorest suffer most. The greater the inequality, and in New Zealand it is great, the greater the 
suffering. 
It is therefore not surprising that the Maori prison population and the incidence of ill health, family abuse and crime should 
be high. 
These are typical products, among others, of a society with high income inequality, especially when coupled with racial 
distrust, which may be residual but will augment the social distrust that high income inequality creates. Our basic social 
need is to reduce income inequality. 
R. H. JACKMAN 
Palmerston North 

 
Strong language 
  
 
 
Sir, _ I always thought that the practice of not using certain words because of their sexist, ageist or racist connotations 
was called political correctness. 
Words like chairman, Negro, crippled and pensioner go out of favour with the politically correct and friendlier (or neutral) 
terms such as chairperson or senior citizen are used instead. 
How odd to hear those who condemn political correctness in other fields attempting to stop Tariana Turia using the word 
holocaust. 
Of course the Nazi holocaust overshadows all others in the past century, but within living memory, Armenians living in 
Turkey and Tutsis living in Rwanda have also faced policies of extermination. 
Ms Turia's critics do not own the word holocaust. Is it now unacceptable for a politician to use strong language when 
talking about our colonial past? 
PHIL SAXBY 
Lyall Bay 

 
Returning to the past 
  
 
Sir _ As New Zealanders, we should all be working together in peace and harmony toward our future. Unfortunately, there 
are some Maoris who do not seem to be able to do this. They keep returning to the past. 
The only holocaust that happened in New Zealand was carried out by Maoris against the peaceful Moriori people, who 
were slaughtered and eaten in their thousands. Today, like the moa and the huia bird, the Morioris are almost extinct. 
At the Native Land Court hearing in the Chatham Islands in 1870, the judge decreed that the Morioris could not have 
ownership of the Chathams as the Maoris were the owners by "virtue of conquest". 
The pain and suffering of Maoris pales in contrast to what the Morioris have endured at the hands of the Maoris. It is high 
time that the Maoris go back a little in their dark history and make amends to the race they almost obliterated. What is 
known of the Morioris seems to be conveniently omitted from libraries and the museums, etc, all of which peddle the 
Maori cause. 
If the British had dealt with the Maoris in the same way as the Maoris dealt with the Morioris, there would not have been 
sufficient Maoris to sign a Treaty of Waitangi. 
R. A. BAIKIE 
Hastings 
* More letters, p14 

Stardust beneficial 
  
 
 
SIR, _ So it is no longer politically correct for children to occasionally experience and explore the "fairy tale" world of visual 
splendour and comfort derived from a sprinkling of stardust in the classroom. 
Yet it remains oh-so-correct for them to be bombarded daily with those meteoric bombshells of "earthly tales" such as 
murder, rape, violence and abuse. 
To argue that a fairytale world could be seen to be insensitive toward some people's culture is spurious. Name me one 
culture that does not have its own fairytale world or romantic mythology, all of which play to and develop the individual's 
imagination. 
The group pushing this particular barrow has got it wrong. What will be next? Ban Walt Disney, Harry Potter and all other 
fictional writings from the school library? 
MIREK MARCANIK 
Wadestown 

Grievance industry 
  
SIR, _ Associate Maori Affairs Minister Tariana Turia may have done New Zealand a favour with her recent comments 
concerning her perception of the effect of colonisation. What is clear is that Maoris seem to believe that Europeans are 
solely responsible for past injustices. This is far from the truth. Te Miringa Hohaia, a leader of the Parihaka community, 
appeared in the article War never ended in Taranaki justifying the use of the term "holocaust" in Taranaki. One seldom 
hears of the genocide and conquest committed by the Taranaki Ngati Awa and Waikato Ngai Toa against the Maupoko of 
Horowhenua and Kapiti, or of the genocide and conquest of the pacifist Morioris on the Chathams. 
In each case the land previously occupied by these peoples was assumed by the invading Taranaki and Waikato tribes. 
Nor do we hear of the murderous assault by the Urewera Ngaputahi on the Ngati Pahauwera and the isolated European 
families of Mohaka on April 10, 1869. 
In this slaughter, 60 Maoris and seven Europeans were killed mostly by bayonet and tomahawk in their homes, whares 
and gardens. The three Lavin children, aged three, five and seven were bayoneted out in the paddock near the Mohaka 
River. The position of the children's bodies showed they had been pursued across the paddock and bayoneted as they 
ran. 
Is it not time for these tribes to acknowledge their atrocities, to apologise to the descendants of the families and negotiate 
reparation for the loss of land and destruction of homes? If Maoris demand restitution for grievances but are not prepared 
to apply the same principles to themselves, we are led to question whether New Zealand is witnessing a monstrous act of 
racism by some Maoris against this generation of taxpayers. Perhaps it is time the Waitangi tribunal and the grievance 
industry it has spawned is reviewed and put to bed. 
A. MacIVOR 
Waikanae 
[Abridged] 

 
Rubbish tin 
 
Sir, _ Loyalty and allegiance are attributes that are often confused with undying devotion and dedication. 
The Wellington Lions are testing the support of their followers with their lack of efficiency and inability to lift their 
performance above mediocrity. They continue to offer spiritless displays that lack commitment and their abilities rarely 
reach a skill level which compares with the promise they offer or the rewards they receive. 
Lately they have given the appearance of a ragbag bunch of inept, despondent, disheartened castaways, leaderless and 
without ambition or purpose. The new stadium and the thousands of fans that turn up to cheer them on have not lifted 
their commitment to improve. Perhaps when the Lions play, the name for the stadium could be the Rubbish Tin. 
TATA PARATA 
Lower Hutt 

 
More trade the answer 
  
Sir, _ If more trade is the answer, what was the question? 
Worldwide trade has increased 16 times since World War II but we have still not solved the problem of the prosperity for 
all. All nations on earth are in debt, and at the same time, in one generation, according to the Worldwide Fund for Nature, 
we have lost 30 per cent of nature's productive capacity. 
Of course corporations want to rule the earth. They want the profits and they want to convince governments to employ 
their solution for prosperity. But the people of the world will not stand by and watch. Demonstrations such as those at the 
World Economic Forum in Melbourne and the World Trade Organisation in Seattle are destined to grow. Together with the 
World Bank and IMF, these organisations are destroying health and life on this planet. But, as time passes, they are 
becoming politically unsustainable. 
Big international finance and banking interests want to protect the loans they created out of nothing. (Contrary to popular 
belief, banks don't lend other people's money, they create it out of nothing, then lend it.) Money is thus created at the 
same time as debt, so there is never enough money in the system to pay all debt at once. Hence debt must grow. The 
best way to reduce indebtedness is to trade. We are trading with each other in a competition to reduce our indebtedness. 
More of the same won't solve the problem. More trade is not the answer while we allow our country's money supply to be 
created by profit-seeking commercial banks. New Zealand Banking Reform believes that reform of the banking system is 
the first step to reducing debt and thus reducing the need for secret and undemocratic organisations such as the World 
Economic Forum. 
DEIRDRE KENT 
NZ Banking Reform 
Wellington 
[Abridged] 


