Re the interesting article about health and climate change (page 33, The Weekend Sun, December 1). Professor Richard Bedford claims dire problems from having a warmer climate.

He should go to Brisbane or anywhere in Queensland where the warmer climate attracts many New Zealanders with no health problems.

Professor Alistair Woodward on the same page claims drought is going to impact heavily on our health. He may also benefit from a trip to inland Queensland where drought is a fact of life. Farmers there do not suffer as he suggest and the state of Queensland does not have a mental health problem, nor are the people under stress.

Drought is a fact of life and rural people are much more resilient than he claims. Rural people deal with climate change daily and seasonally and if he does not know that he should not be making these claims.

Don't make claims you cannot substantiate!

D Hardie, Paengaroa.