Letters to the Editor: Foo Fighters, health and the uni

Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including the lack of a Foo Fighters concert in Dunedin, New Zealand's two-tier health system, and the university's marine assets.

I see the Foo Fighters are going to be playing in Christchurch (before the covered stadium).

We couldn't lure back Ed Sheeran despite the mural in Bath St, and the last few concerts have been somewhat ho hum. I don't know what the payroll costs of DVML are, but are we getting anywhere near value for money? Unless they have some big announcements up their sleeves I would suggest not.

Mark Wilesmith

St Leonards

Terry Davies, CEO, Dunedin Venues, replies. Hosting matches for the upcoming Fifa Women’s World Cup, the All Blacks v Wallabies test match and with only a handful of tickets left for sale for the Pink concert in March 2024, highlights the fact that music promoters and major sporting bodies continue to see Dunedin as a preferred destination to host their major events. To suggest that every event that comes to New Zealand will come to our regional destination is fanciful. Recent concerts played at Forsyth Barr Stadium generated a combined economic impact of $19.5 million for the city and region. Ed Sheeran could not play at Forsyth Barr Stadium due to the size of his stage, which had supports higher than our roof. DVML has fought, and will continue to fight, for and deliver high quality events to Dunedin that generate economic benefits for its residents.

Has this record ever been surpassed before in the Queen’s/King’s Honours List (ODT, 5.6.23)

Of the 21 people honoured in Otago-Southland, 14 are women and seven are men. Congratulations to all .

Also, in the same edition of the ODT, was looking back on 100 years, "Postal women paid less". Women working in the services were discriminated through their pay because they were women. We have come a long way and may that continue in other sectors of our society.

In another 100 years decisions based on gender are far less a factor in society but we have not yet reached the stage where it not a necessary part of negotiations.

Rev Wayne Healey

Oamaru

Bank scams are on the rise. I read about a guy who recently lost over 300K in the Citibank scam. I think however that banks are somewhat responsible. They pushed us into using internet banking to save money and frankly their staff aren't up to the task authorising payments to things that are scams as if customers are experts. It's going to get worse. Open banking and app money transfers are being heavily pushed through by the government. I suspect this will lead to another avenue of attack for scammers as sophisticated scams love a market with options.

Matt McDonald

Mosgiel

Thanks to Elizabeth Fenton and Prof Robin Gauld for their article on the two-tier health system (ODT, 5.6.23).

If only more health professionals would stop talking about a building and focus on the heart of the matter. Which is, of course, a system increasingly based on class.

Prof Richard Titmuss pointed out in the 1970s that growing affluence concealed the growth of inequality. Also a development he called "exit" — the middle-class opting for private health care, and the consequent demise of public provision.

Think of dentistry. All commercial except for Dunedin’s building for the poor. Think of the growth of charity hospitals and wonder why.

And for those who dismiss arguments against the growth of commercial health care as ideology, well, of course it is. But unfortunately it is not as powerful as the ideology that puts profit first.

As it is, the massive resources required for spare-part surgery and other developments threatens the sustainability of the national health care service.

Unless there is an equally massive shift to preventive health care in the community.

Christopher Horan

Lake Hawea

Do any of us really know what assets the University of Otago have? For instance I just found out they own five boats for marine research in and around Otago Harbour and offshore. The largest Polaris II is now up for replacement by a purpose-built research boat which they will design. So how big is the marine research department to warrant having five boats, and to afford a new one for a replacement?

C. Penny

Balclutha

Prof Miles Lamare, head of Marine Science, replies. The Department of Marine Science regularly operates four boats: a small aluminum runabout that serves the Portobello Marine Laboratory, two larger trailered vessels for remote survey and dive work, and the largest RV Polaris II (21m) that works between the Marlborough Sounds, Rakiura and Fiordland depending on teaching and research activities. The vessels, while managed by Marine Science, are required for teaching and research across university departments, as well as for undertaking externally funded research and contract work. There are no plans to replace the RV Polaris II which is expected to serve the university through to 2028-30 under its present management plan. In 2020 Marine Science recognised the need to increase the efficient use of its vessels and to move the university boating operations to a financially sustainable position. Following the review, the department reduced the number of boats it operated, including the sale of 6m and 12m vessels.

Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: [email protected]