Christopher Luxon [Leader of the Opposition and MP for Botany], like most politicians has a short and very convenient memory loss [Times, March 2] describing Labour as the most divisive government in memory.
The last term of the National government, marked by continued bitter leadership squabbles which got even worse during the party’s term in office wasn’t the most divisive government in recent memory but the entire history of New Zealand politics.
As for the dream of ownership, which party cascaded wealthy immigrants into New Zealand way beyond the number of houses available? They then proceeded by lowering the interest rates from 3.7 per cent to 1.7 per cent [and] gave them virtually free money to buy up not just one but multiple houses creating a whole new breed of landlords and multiple homeowners that led to the current runaway house prices. It took home ownership away from one third of New Zealanders.
The Labour Party is, at least, having a little success is trying to fix [this].
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay