Stemming mortgage fears
Thomas Coughlan's Big Loan Rise Fear article (NZ Herald, April 18) raises the question of what can be done to stem the fear and mitigate the potential carnage in New Zealand. It is estimated by some that with home mortgage rates at 4 per cent, over
60 per cent of Australians could default on their mortgages and lose their homes. At 6 per cent or more over 80 per cent of Australians could lose their homes. The United Australia Party policy is proposing to introduce a maximum interest rate for all home loans of 3 per cent per annum for the next five years to "save" Australian home ownership. In another interesting policy to repay Australia's national debt by leveraging resources, the same party proposes introducing a 15 per cent export licence on the export of all Australian iron ore. Minor parties may hold the balance of power in the current Australian Federal elections. Are there some learnings there for New Zealand?
Gary Carter, Gulf Harbour.
The last Ukrainian
Nightly, we despair as we witness blow after blow against the Ukrainian people who have done nothing to deserve this endless assault. The US and its allies seem intent on fighting to the last Ukrainian, as they support Ukraine with everything except boots on the ground. Now, after an initial period of resistance, we have joined Nato in a fighting war. Since there was no public or parliamentary debate it is likely that we were pressured to send "lethal aid" including troops and intelligence support to Europe. Without defending Russia's actions for a second, we should ask how Ukraine can be protected from total destruction. Short of the implausible prospect of destroying Russia, the answer is negotiation and President Zelenskyy has regularly said he is open to a political settlement. Aotearoa has a proud anti-nuclear tradition that has paved the way for us to take a lead in disarmament and other peace negotiations — most notably helping to resolve the devastating conflict in Bougainville. Now the war in Ukraine threatens to escalate out of all control and this is exactly the wrong time to throw out our peace tradition in favour of de facto membership of the Nato alliance.
Maire Leadbeater, Mt Albert.
All work and no play
It is very sad and disturbing that money (as abstract as it is) has become the main form of worship and religion in NZ and maybe the world — but businesses cannot have it both ways. Religious events such as Christmas and Easter bring huge amounts of revenue in the manufacture, courier and retail sectors which would disappear if these events and holidays were cancelled. Egocentricity, burnout and mental health is at a record high in this age of modern stressful technology. Working hours have extended to 24/7, and people claim to be "time poor" as a result. Without statutory holidays, there would be no enforced closures, it would be all work and no play and hope, faith and charity would become a "cancel culture" vocabulary.
One does not need to go to church to extend these values and ceasing to worship the mighty dollar. Building strong and trusting communities gives people strength and power by supporting each other. Lives matter, money, not so much. Cancellation of public holidays which allows precious family and community time, would only result in a negative step in society as a whole.
Marie Kaire, Whangārei.
Pray and protest
Easter is the time of rebirth in many religions with stories of death and life but all we see in the world at the moment is deaths. Even Jerusalem, a holy city for again many religions, is at present the site of violence and unrest when it should be full of people celebrating their faith or children eating too much chocolate. Maybe it's time for the faithful to pray for peace and for the rest to protest, write letters to politicians and for governments to condemn acts of war and unite to find a way for peace to prosper. Peace in our time. A remote possibility or as imaginary as the Easter Bunny? It is a test for all of humanity.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne.
