The Star: November 04, 2021

The Star Thursday November 4 2021
16
OPINION
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Review of pandemic response needed
NATIONAL’S PUSH for an
inquiry into the Government’s
pandemic response this year
focuses specifically on the Delta
outbreak and its lead-up.
The main opposition party
says it wants a royal commission
to look at what was done to plan
for a Delta outbreak in the community.
Said leader
Judith Collins:
“There was no
preparation,
particularly
in the health
system for ICU
Judith
Collins
units – the
inability to actually
prepare for
that when other
countries were doing it. There
was no particular work started
on any vaccine certificate.”
Collins charged that the Government’s
response did not adapt
to changing circumstances from
the first year of the pandemic.
Aspects that needed looking at
included testing, the pace of the
rollout, Māori vaccination rates,
spending, transparency and
communication.
Calling for an inquiry is a way
of pointing out perceived shortcomings
and piling political heat
on the Government over what
has previously happened, just as
the party in power is trying keep
the public focus on the now and
near future.
Still, it does highlight some of
the many issues that have floated
along our pandemic river. In a
constantly moving and multifaceted
crisis, their impact hasn’t
been adequately analysed.
The basic idea of official scrutiny
of a Covid-19 response is not new.
A parliamentary inquiry into the
United Kingdom Government’s
handling of the pandemic there
has already been held.
Two committees of MPs produced
a highly critical report in
October into the disastrous initial
stages of Covid-19 in Britain.
New Zealand’s response and
outcomes have been completely
different to Britain’s. New Zealand
has had 1285 cases and six
deaths per one million people
compared to the UK’s 131,949
and 2056. This country is mostly
since Environment Canterbury
climate-change emergency
known for elimination, long
stretches of safe times, and a
slow rollout; the UK for muddled
restrictions, early vaccinations
and “freedom day”.
Yet both countries, as well as
others, at some stage, will need
independent, comprehensive
reviews of what has occurred
during the pandemic.
Such a review here would need
to cover everything, not just a
section of it. Lessons need to be
drawn about what worked and
what didn’t, and what we need to
know to prepare for next time.
Having been lashed by a previous
Sars coronavirus outbreak
from China, several countries
and territories in Asia had a
headstart in understanding how
to deal with this one.
Internationally, the pandemic
response mostly continues to be
country and region-based when
a more widely organised effort
would be more effective against
the virus. There are few signs a
new pandemic would be dealt
with in a more co-operative way.
In New Zealand we know
that border closures and quick
lockdown coupled with financial
support are crucial initial
responses and that access to
medical equipment, staff and
treatments are essential.
Here a review would need
to consider questions such as
whether health guidance to the
public kept up with changing
information overseas; whether
restrictions criteria were too
broad and bureaucratic; whether
time bought by closed borders
and the first lockdown was
wasted in terms of improving
the MIQ system and medical
supplies; whether the vaccine
rollout could have been quicker
and different groups should have
been prioritised.
There’s a lot more besides that
needs to be analysed so that we
don’t face the next pandemic
from square one. The desire
to return to the comforts of
normality work against the idea
of stopping to assess past events.
– NZ Herald
Respect the habitat of ground-nesting birds
by sea-level rise this century and threatened and DELICATE: facing increased It’s no secret that many of the
our productive and protected land pressures due Braided to river system world’s species and ecosystems
Environment
jeopardised by the arrival and change. rivers are are on the precipice. There has
spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are a habitat also ecosystems been a lot written lately on what
Canterbury Chair
pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally of unique and regionally, the future may look like for New
All these eventualities have degraded by bird draining, species
Jenny Hughey
damming Zealand’s flora and fauna if we
to be planned and prepared for, and diversion
such
affecting
as
their continue our current path. The
the wrybill. stories can make for grim reading.
and enhance that work.
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
Motor
I WAS That disappointed work included to read setting yet season, by 2022. and Carbon with the emissions population from
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater
vehicles
and
are
mitigate
It’s important, then, that we all
again up a climate-change that some four-wheel integration drive of air many travel of these across birds the species organisation in these climate change efforts. flooding, as well a danger as impacting on
enthusiasts are putting vulnerable
birdlife at risk by taking their time for determining their future Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity,
a precarious place, it’s a crucial One example is the $40 million biodiversity and try to grasp what this means for
programme in the Long-term Plan are offset via our own biodiversity
to nesting mahinga kai.
our country. In doing our bit, or
2018-28, ensuring climate change programmes.
sites. we are
vehicles onto the braided rivers prospects.
protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the
at least understanding the plight
was actively considered across According to a Madworld report
– in this case the Ashley River/ This is why predator traps are by curbing late last certain year. The activities network at of these nesting risks of colonies new pests can establishing
of these precious species and supporting
the efforts of those trying
cause
workstreams, increasing visibility in 2019, our gross emissions were
Rakahuri.
placed around these sites. It’s also certain floodgates times. and stopbanks will tremendous in Canterbury. harm to these Warming bird
of the science and what we know 2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide
to help, we don’t just save our
Our braided rivers are a special why we place signs and concrete Doing protect so doesn’t half a million just show people an and colonies, temperatures, seriously undermining changing soils and
flora and fauna, we nurture some
place
about
for
the
many
impact
recreationists,
of climate
but blocks
(CO2)
around
equivalent,
these areas
compared
asking
with understanding $8 billion of community the challenges and their survival new land prospects; uses mean and new is weeds
of most positive aspects of being
they
change
are
on
also
Canterbury,
a special place
and
for
liaising
people
removals
to stay
of
off
7883
the
tonnes
riverbeds,
of CO2- faced business by these assets bird species, from a it possible heartbreaking especially, to those will be who able have to gain
human.
a
some on the truly issue unique with iwi bird and species, regional especially equivalent from through September our efficiency shows “super respect flood”. for all the work that dedicated better painstaking foothold time across and the region.
such partners, as the other wrybill local and authorities banded through efforts to and the from end of forestry January. planting goes on The behind last major the scenes flood to was give in energy (often More voluntarily) broadly, we into have to
dotterel. and central government.
I’m across not 2700 asking hectares.
• Cr Jenny Hughey is chair
everyone in the these December birds a fighting 1957, chance when parts – the preserving curb these reliance species. on fossil fuels and
More As an to organisation, the point, these we rivers have community The changing to become climate devout will pose
of the Canterbury Regional
building, of Coutts installing Island and in checking Belfast and That find should environmentally be incentive suitable
are also their made habitat significant – the environment
addressing that they our are own uniquely greenhouse-
protectors in Canterbury. of these In vulnerable recent years
progress in conservationists many risks to or life passionate and livelihood
Council (Environment
of predator Kainga traps; were swamped the river maintenance;
flow and peaking the field at 3990 research cubic extra incentive hydrogen, may to power be found our public
by river enough alternatives, to do the right such thing, as electricity but
Canterbury)
and
adapted gas emissions, to and the with place our they species; we have but seen I am how asking occasional, that and monitoring.
in knowing that those found to
depend Christchurch on for their building survival. receiving a we but at least extreme, respect weather their habitat, events have metres per second (cumecs). transport.
It’s a year since Environment A careless The protection or indifferent scheme act has by been Canterbury
have killed When protected my predecessor wildlife Steve
“market-leading” This habitat is especially energy efficiency understand had huge their effects delicate on residents predicament,
infrastructure and do the around decent thing the South
designed to defend Christchurch Lowndes retired as chair of
and someone taking a 4WD or motorcycle
onto the riverbed and into imprisonment.
can receive hefty fines and even
important rating of 5.0 during out of the 6 nesting
the year
to February
declared
on the National Island.
a climate-change emergency
from a flood of as much as 6500 this council late last year, he
cumecs.
highlighted some of the big
Australian JENNY Built HUGHEY Environment explains what The driest parts of our region, Environment Canterbury’s by sea-level changes rise on this the century way. He and was threatened and facing increased
Rating the System council New has Zealand. been doing. along the Marlborough coast and leadership of biodiversity and our optimistic productive and we would protected be land able to pressures due to river system
The building’s features include across much of the Canterbury Environment
DO
The formal
YOU
declaration of a
PREPARE biosecurity FOR programmes is also jeopardised deal with by the “pressing arrival and issues” of change.
184 solar state panels of climate which emergency can across Plains, are expected to get even underpinned by climate-change spread climate of new, change exotic and weeds sustainability.
and Wetlands are also ecosystems
Canterbury
generate Canterbury more than was 55,000 one of the most drier. North-westerly storms SUMMER Chair
are
pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally,
concerns.
I share his confidence. As a
kilowatt serious, hours and of electricity colourful, moments per predicted to become more Jenny intense, Hughey
All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming
need
Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council,
year. in the regional council’s more than
Request a free
to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their
with torrential alpine rainstorms rivers and unique wetlands face we are taking some bold steps to
30-year history.
There has been a 26% reduction turning and enhance our braided that work. rivers measure into and fleet
A year ago this Saturday,
many hybrid challenges. or long-range The rivers electric
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
form ensure we are in a better place to
per staff at member 11.49am, Environment
in emissions roaring That rapids, work included fuelling landslides setting by
a vital
2022.
ecological
Carbon emissions
link and
from
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate
provide cope with the changing climate
up a climate-change integration
quote from
air travel across the organisation
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on
since 30 Canterbury June 2010. became We now New have Zealand’s and causing widespread erosion. an abundant food supply and One and example the tests is the it $40 will million set us. But biodiversity and mahinga kai.
programme in the Long-term Plan are offset via our own biodiversity
access first to electric council and to proclaim hybrid such an Canterbury’s
2018-28, ensuring
coastal HomePlus.
climate change programmes.
nesting grounds for 26 species of Waimakariri there will River always flood be a need to do With biosecurity, we are
vehicles emergency, and hope formally to have dedicating half our communities was actively will considered be threatened across native According birds to – most a Madworld classified report as protection more. project, completed putting greater emphasis on the
itself to consideration of climate
late last year. The network of risks of new
Measured,
pests establishing
made
a new insect or
workstreams, increasing
Make
visibility
the most
in 2019,
of the
our gross emissions were
change at the heart of all it does.
floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. and installed Warming by our
security of the science and what we know 2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide
The declaration solution?
warm weather while
highlighted
protect half a million people and temperatures, team changing of experts. soils and
about the impact of climate (CO2) equivalent, compared with
that all the work Environment
still being secure.
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds
change on Canterbury, and liaising removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2-
Canterbury does – from
business assets from a possible especially, will 5 year be able warranty. to gain a
on the issue with iwi and regional equivalent through our efficiency
freshwater management to
“super flood”.
better foothold across the region.
partners, other local authorities efforts and from forestry planting
biodiversity and biosecurity,
The last major flood was in More broadly, we have to
AWNINGS & BLINDS BALUSTRADES and central FENCING government. & GATES INSECT across SCREENS 2700 hectares. LOUVRE ROOFS SECURITY SCREENS SHOWERS WARDROBES & DOORS
transport and urban development
December 1957, when parts curb reliance on fossil fuels and
to air quality, and also regional
As an organisation, we have The changing climate will pose of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable
leadership – has a climate change
also made significant progress in many risks to life and livelihood Kainga were swamped by river alternatives, such as electricity and
88 Gasson St, Sydenham | 03 379
focus.
addressing 3740 | our www.homeplus.co.nz
own greenhousegas
emissions, with our
we have seen how occasional, metres per second (cumecs).
in Canterbury. In recent years flow peaking at 3990 cubic hydrogen, to power our public
Currently, under the Resource
transport.