The question for New Zealand is why is there no free ambulance in our country? Most countries have a free ambulance service – even Russia!

Instead of St John having to compete for charity funds beside Hospice and many other groups who volunteer and give their all to help others, the ambulance service should be free. St John ambulance should be fully tax-funded. When we can spend up to $300-plus million on a boat race, one has to wonder about common sense? Is humanity dead in NZ?

Ron Chamberlain, Otūmoetai.