Name rings a bell

• Published date: 29 April 2021
• Publication title: Northland Age, The

What a valuable publication the Northland Age is. All the local news from the North and opinions of people on all topics. We agree and disagree, but the best way of forming an opinion is a study of history, ancient and modern.

From the dawn of civilisation in places like the Euphrates River, where one of the earliest organised village and farming times by humans occurred. Ancient Egypt and the life of King David. The histories of leaders and royalty. Nations that have waxed and waned. The lies of ancient Jews to get rid of Christ that backfired on them. Modern days, where the behaviour of politicians led to Adolf Hitler and the deaths of millions, including New Zealanders, as his evil had to be stopped.

History is such an important subject to learn from because mankind the world over, as well as right here, doesn’t learn from history, and we are still making the same mistakes ancient civilisations made. If you don’t believe that, watch our Parliament in action on TV. Christ predicted the end result.

Who? What team did he play for?

Sam McHarg

Kerikeri

Don’t stop there

The recently announced changes to the way health is administered in New Zealand are long overdue. We do not need 20 separate health authorities in New Zealand, as responses to the pandemic has illustrated. The current setup has simply put roadblock after roadblock in front of the efforts of the Ministry of Health to protect us from this pandemic.

And as to the cost for the administration of the 20 health authorities, what a waste of money. There are many other reasons for their abolition, one being there is little collaboration between them, each tendering for what they need. The British NHS system is one we could well emulate.

But these changes only go halfway. The system needs more money, and lots of it — $10 billion would help. One example will illustrate the need, but there are many many more such situations.

Some 10 years ago our GP said there was something “sinister” in my wife’s abdomen, and she needed a scan. He said it would be six weeks later in the public system, or in the next few days in the private system, at a cost around $1000. We can’t afford health insurance, but we could find the money, which was just as well, as the scan showed Stage 4 ovarian cancer. To be fair, the public system then swung into action and she is now in total remission. But if she had not had the scan when she did and waited for the public system she would certainly be dead.

There are many in our country who cannot afford health insurance, or could not find the $1000. Is this fair or just, or even ethical?

A comparison with other countries that do have comprehensive health systems for all, and not just those for who can afford insurance, does suggest our health budget needs about $10b more on an annual basis. And this does not include money that is needed to bring our system up to a reasonable standard for all.

This figure of $10b is also pretty close to estimates made by some of our own health professionals.

At the moment our health system is pretty good for those who can afford access to the private providers. For those who can’t, our system...