The Labour Party's latest announcement to add the EQC levies to rates is just another desperate measure proposed by a party increasingly desperate to regain power.
They did not even have the ability or courage to announce what they propose the amount of EQC cover would be.
The current cap that the EQC pays out on is $100,000 and all homeowners pay the same amount and this is because they all receive the same level of cover.
Under the proposed Labour party policy is it fair that many home owners will pay significantly more for cover but only receive the same amount of cover that everyone else has?
Many ratepayers are already struggling to pay rates and to propose that it be added to rates, based on the value of the property, will in my view adversely affect many of our senior citizens who through circumstances live in higher value areas, of the city, but will be forced to pay more even though they will only receive the same amount of cover as everyone else.
Everyone paying the same amount for the same level of cover and then topping this up with private insurance cover is fair but then is not necessarily the socialist approach that Labour wants to adopt.

Mike Baker, Bethlehem.