.
Peter
Dunne’s essential argument is that there has been an
unhealthy refusal in New Zealand to listen to different
voices on how to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Certainly
if there had been a refusal it would have been unhealthy. He
attributes the country’s success to “…public fear, and
skillful communications accompanied by sheer good
fortune.” This is misplaced.
Certainly there was
public fear; it was an unprecedented threatening and highly
contagious pandemic after all. Yes there was skill in the
communications. But the communications were also based on
the best evidence available and delivered with both empathy
.
Peter Dunne’s essential argument is that there has been an unhealthy refusal in New Zealand to listen to different voices on how to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Certainly if there had been a refusal it would have been unhealthy. He attributes the country’s success to “…public fear, and skillful communications accompanied by sheer good fortune.” This is misplaced.
Certainly there was public fear; it was an unprecedented threatening and highly contagious pandemic after all. Yes there was skill in the communications. But the communications were also based on the best evidence available and delivered with both empathy and plain language.
Nikam, who is in his mid-30s, laughs at the idea now. While in limbo, he got a call about Paddock to Plate, a new restaurant venture in Hamilton s main street. Would he be interested? ”As a Beef + Lamb ambassador, opening a steak house is the best thing you can choose,” he said. Owners Leonard Gardner, of Foster Construction, and Lalit Kumar, of Iguana Street Bar & Restaurant, knew just what they wanted. As well as being a steak house – “Kiwis love steak” – Paddock to Plate has strong support from local kaupapa.
MARK TAYLOR/Stuff
Paddock to Plate Waikato is in the former site of Bluestone Steakhouse, in Hamilton s main street.
Kirsten McDougall’s Walking Day has taken out top honours in the open category of the Sunday Star-Times short story competition for 2020. lllustration: Rachel Trevelyan
Kirsten McDougall’s Walking Day has taken out top honours and a $5000 prize in the open category of the
Sunday Star-Times short story competition for 2020. The dogs started up before sunrise. A lone howl next a chorus of answers and fresh queries. Hungry lonely hungry loneleee Their cries entered Pip’s dreams and she woke full of warning. Dogs always knew when walking day came. No light round the rim of the shutters but the whole town would be awake with the dog racket. That was the cruel joke of it Father said. Walking day meant no labour but neither could you sleep.
Kirsten McDougall is the winner of the Sunday Star-Times short story competition, open category.
Kirsten McDougall’s love of reading and writing has come a long way since her interest in Enid Blyton and Trixie Belden books as a child. The accomplished Wellington author, who works as a publicist and literary manager for Victoria University Press, lives a life surrounded by words. ”That’s just my world.” And now McDougall can add
Sunday Star-Times short story competition open category winner to her CV for her piece,
Walking Day. She takes home the $5000 prize after almost 700 entries were received and blind judged over two categories.