Pollyanna take off those rose colored glasses

 There are problems in paradise.  They aren’t insurmountable but they are there.

Beer bottles discarded carelessly

Walking back from the Village I took a picture of beer containers discarded by the side of the road on a lovely grassy area.  This brought to mind that as much as I appreciate NZ for all of the good things here, there is still a ‘soft underbelly’ of problems.  There is the Maori complaint of inequitable treatment, the influx of money from other countries which is driving up the house prices in the Auckland area and the controversial synthetic cannabis vs the use of regular old cannabis issue.  There was a UK report showing the positive correlation between income inequality and poorer health and social conditions among developed countries.  NZ was better than the US, which had the worst inequality and worst health and social conditions, but was worse than say Canada.  But then NZ has a smaller population, wonderful natural resources and hopefully will come to grips with the problems it faces.

Further readings of the index can be found at:

http://www.closertogether.org.nz/inequality-in-nz/index-of-health-and-social-problems/

 

Fresh water for local pets

Flannel shirt uniform

 How can you not love a people who leave bowls of water by the sidewalks for the 4 footed friends of strangers.  There is still a sense of well-being when we see a stranger at the market, flannel shirt, casual slacks pushing a trundler (Oh I love that name for a grocery cart!) and that wonderful woman with permed grey curls, flowery blouse, mid-calf tan skirt, green home knit wool cardigan, ankle socks and sensible pumps squeezing the vegetables before choosing the best for dinner tonight.  We all exchange smiles and good will as we go about our marketing.

Picton St. Howick Village today

Early 1900s Picton Street

Old Howick and new Howick had and have growing pains.  The goodwill, hopefully, will help to resolve these and other thorny issues.

Sunny day, J