My Account
Bargain Chemist welcomed
Over the years I have supported a lot of local chemists around the Coast – as we have moved around a bit and have three children. We have always had great service there. However, as my children have grown up they generally head to a budget chemist in Albany for their makeup and other health related products to save money. It is super exciting to see that Bargain Chemist is coming to the Plaza (HM March 7). While I understand it will provide significant competition to long-established local stores, I personally think its model of bulk buying perfumes and other items so they can be sold at bargain prices, and also subsidising the $5 prescription fee, is a good one. Things are tough out there and sometimes tradeoffs have to be made to save money. If we need the expert health advice from a trusted pharmacist, we will no doubt still go to a regular pharmacy. But for everything else I am unapologetic about grabbing those savings where we can.
Michelle Anderson, Tindalls Bay
Editor’s note: There is an update since that story was published – Bargain Chemist will not fill the space left by Life Pharmacy. Instead it is taking three shops, on same level as Countdown and opposite the travelators. It is expected to move in later this month. No tenant has yet been found for the space that Life Pharmacy has vacated.
Loyal customer
My long career as a globe-trotting journalist has seen me seek help at pharmacies in many countries including Africa, Switzerland and the UK, as well as New Zealand, and so I feel qualified to congratulate pharmacist Tania Adams on the comments in her advertisement (HM March 21). And, what’s more, she and her team at Unichem Manly demonstrate the truth of her words about the value of truly local pharmacies – ones which take a pride in serving their communities rather than merely raking in the cash as medication peddlers. They are unquestionably the best I’ve encountered and dealing with them is a pleasure.
Leslie Watkins, Arkles Bay
Big choice coming up
I appreciate all that our local pharmacies do – from offering vaccinations to advice and supplying medicines. I also applaud the arrival of Bargain Chemist to the mix. Why? Because it provides consumer choice locally and potentially more local employment. I don’t see any reason for this to be a bad thing, although I understand the concerns of local pharmacies. The fact is that consumers have the right to choose their provider, according to their preference and budget. That is how the free market works.
Angela Parker, Silverdale
A call to action
A letter about Auckland’s Climate Change Action (HM March 21) demands a response. It substitutes fact with emotive language like “WOKE”, whatever that is supposed to mean, other than to scare the punters. Ironically the examples given by the letter writer contradict his argument. His so called (acid) rain scam was not a scam which disappeared after being debunked. Exactly the opposite happened. The Europeans took action and filtered the sulphur out of industrial smokestacks and acid rain ceased. And of course acid rain did not “panic” Germany to halt all its nuclear energy plants. The acid rain problem had been solved three decades before. The exit from nuclear energy was caused by the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 and should have happened already after the even worse Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. However, at that time Germany did not have a scientist like Angela Merkel as chancellor, who understands that nuclear energy is inherently unsafe and the storage of nuclear waste being highly radioactive over thousands of years has not been solved. The letter writer obviously wants us to do nothing about climate change – at least not pay for it, as it will solve itself (like the ozone hole is magically closing). The facts are that the always maligned scientists identified the problem being man made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone depleting gases. The production of these was banned by the Montreal Protocol in 1987. The very examples the writer cites for a ‘doing nothing’ approach to climate change instead proves that it is our action which is required to solve, or at least mitigate, the problem we have created in the first place.
Dr Hans B. Grueber, Wainui (abridged)
Church v state
I have an answer to the question posed in your story about a group of churches challenging the Covid-19 Red light gathering rules – Churches v State (HM March 7). My understanding is that Jesus was all about love, understanding and helping each other through life. He exemplified the importance of making sacrifices for the sake of others. So, yes, I believe that, He may have asked for vaccine passes (while they were still required), on the understanding that they were part of keeping everyone safe. However, if someone did not have one, I’m sure He would have let them in to do a RAT test!
Simon Galloway, Red Beach
Church case not calling on taxes
First off I have no problems with Religion or Churches. Each to their own I believe. So, have I got this right? A group of non-tax paying churches are going to take the government to court over a situation that the whole country (and world ) has had to endure and us taxpayers are going to foot the bill? I think its pretty rich. The Pastors etc who are on board with this should feel totally ashamed especially when they look their Tax paying parishioners in the eye after receiving their weekly donations. As the Gentleman from Arkles Bay noted (HM March 21) I think they may be more concerned about their weekly cash intake during the lockdowns although I am sure they are very savey with the on line banking.
Garry Leslie, Tindalls Bay
Barrister for Ōrewa Community Church and other, Madeleine Flannagan, responds: The Churches, Mosques and individuals I represent agree with the ‘each to their own’ sentiment expressed by the writer – that is why they are taking the case. They are not seeking special treatment. They are seeking equal treatment and consistent application of the rules in the same way the traffic light rules have been applied to other legally protected rights to date in the pandemic, such as the right to access public transport and school. The writer will be relieved to hear the case is being fully funded by private donations, not taxes. Even if that were not the case, the writer might consider that most individual attendees of Churches and Mosques pay taxes, donations to charities are voluntary, and in NZ all citizens and entities have the right to legally challenge the decisions of their government regardless of their tax or charitable status.
Action on Ōrewa
I am calling on all women, to help move Auckland Council to restore the virtually destroyed – once beautiful – Ōrewa Beach! Council has waffled for years, costing ratepayers millions by shifting sand on the beach, each time we have a storm or a King-tide. What a waste of time, money and energy. It has been totally useless and hasn’t solved the problem. Recently, I had a look at the beach. Although the parts where the massive rocks still remain, are virtually unchanged, the rest of the beach now has huge gaps – sand gone to give free access by the sea to some seats and steps. Many of the beautiful old Pohutukawas and Norfolk Pine trees have their roots exposed. They may not be able to shade your children or grandchildren as the sea continues to batter their roots. I call on women to bombard the Council procrastinators with emails, demanding positive action immediately to restore the beach, return the large rocks that were taken away several years ago, or to start building a strong and attractive sea-wall. I have emailed our MP, Mark Mitchell who is contacting Council. Auckland Council, man-up! We do not have a seawall and the sand definitely does not work, apart from filling someone’s pockets with dollars that are ours! We do not want a “plan” we want action – immediately!
Margaretha Western, Ōrewa (abridged)
Editor’s note: As luck would have it, this issue was discussed in a recent local board workshop and the paper then spoke with Council staff about the latest damage to the beach, plans for the reserve and progress on building the seawall between Kohu Street and Marine View, which gained resource consent in 2020.
