Whose war are we really fighting

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CONTROVERSIAL: A writer wonders why we have troops in Afghanistan. I heard on the Radio New Zealand news yesterday a very thought-provoking statement from Tariana Turia questioning our participation in the situation in Afghanistan.

In her statement, she was questioning whose war were we fighting. Is this war purely for, and about American interests? I feel Tariana has hit the nail on the head.

In no way can I see where, or how, New Zealand is under any threat from Afghanistan. I have often asked just what are New Zealand troops doing in Afghanistan? Just what is it the Americans want from Afghanistan? Ever since Alexander the Great tried to conquer that part of the world, it has been known "as the graveyard of empires".

I would have our personnel out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. There is no gain to, or for, New Zealand in this endeavour, except the ongoing loss of lives. Thankfully, we have one politician with the intestinal fortitude to express her opinion, with which I heartily agree.Trevor Douglas Wakely NapierTe Reo mistakeThe article headed "Revealed: What police saw in the Ureweras", indicates a lack of understanding of Maori language-Te Reo.

Firstly there is no such word as Ureweras as there is no plural in Maori. Secondly the phrase "in the Ureweras" is meaningless.

Te Urewera, as it should be probably described, is a geographical area. Hawke's Bay Today and other newspapers have been guilty in the past of using the description as suggesting "Urewera" is a mountain range.

It is not. Within Te Urewera (which literally means burnt penis and is so named because several hundred years ago a chief died after rolling over while asleep too close to a fire and burning his groin) National Park are several ranges: Huiarau, Ikuwhenua, Maungapohatu and Panekiri.

The other error in the article is the phrase "Tuhoe leader Tama Iti".

It is one thing for a member of the iwi to call him or herself Tuhoe, but the tribe is officially known as Ngai Tuhoe, just as most Maori in Hawke's Bay are Ngati Kahungunu and those on the East Coast are Ngati Porou.

Perhaps in future Hawke's Bay Today could be more culturally sensitive.Heugh ChappellHavelock NorthEditor's note: We stand corrected by Heugh Chappell and point out the article was supplied to Hawke's Bay Today by The New Zealand Herald.