No returns policy
Hylton Le Grice (NZ Herald, December 8) is spot-on in his letter re the increasing level of violence in NZ.
Our police are stretched already and now losing hundreds to non-vaccination and also having to man roadblocks.
It seems to me that we simply cannot allow this descent into violence
to become endemic in our society and further that some systemic changes are needed.
One of the most dastardly things that our "cousins" across the Tasman have inflicted on us is the transferring of their 501 detritus due to an unintended quirk of our, and international, laws on citizenship. If this situation continues, we will undoubtedly descend into further depths of violence and depravity.
The answer is simple - we must immediately introduce legislation to the effect that if a person with NZ citizenship has lived in another country for a lengthy period, and commits a major crime in that country, he/she immediately forfeits NZ citizenship. If we can close our borders to protect us from Covid why not also to protect us from 501s?
And incidentally, I do not care what the UN or any other country or international organisation may say in this regard.
Steve Clerk, Meadowbank.
Habitat threat
We congratulate and support Denys Trussell (NZ Herald, December 8) in bringing the threat to the Kohimarama Forest to the notice of the public.
This unique and irreplaceable 2.3 hectare block of indigenous forest in the heart of Kohimarama, in the Unitary Plan designated as a special ecological area, was allowed to be rezoned as mostly residential mixed housing suburban, and is now being offered for sale to a developer with no protection for the native trees. The neglect of this forest, resulting in a weed problem, is now being addressed by volunteers who are making a significant difference. We understand that the voluntary group is prepared to work with the Council and the owners of the land to retain it as an even more beautiful place with tracks and planting, a real asset for generations to come, possibly along the lines of the Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve, which was originally to become a tip.
We also encourage the owners, who have a long and valued association with the development of this area, to seek a viable solution which will benefit the whole community.
Chris and Pat Barfoot, Wai O Taiki Bay.
Stress tested
Regarding your article "Stress testing shows most banks would struggle to pay out deposits in a severe scenario" (NZ Herald, December 8). Excuse me, did I read right "detail not revealed"? The Reserve Bank has been owned by the Government since 1936 and depositors have a right to know which of the nine biggest banks failed the stress test. Better still, do tell which one passed.
With major banks boasting outrageous profits and slashing services, I would have thought they would have all passed with flying colours.
Perhaps the Deputy Governor may care to elaborate in detail with full transparency.
Michelle Nash, Murrays Bay.
Check point
I and my husband will be one of the many unfortunate people visiting our friends in the Bay of Islands this festive season. We are both double-vaccinated and have followed all the government protocols during this pandemic.
When we reach the roadblocks on our long arduous journey, I would like to know if the police or Māori representatives asking us to open our car windows to check our vaccination passports are actually vaccinated themselves.
I would be somewhat aggrieved if the very people manning the checkpoints were not required to be vaccinated
Michelle Konik, Ōrākei.
All aboard
Mayor Phil Goff is happy to spend a billion dollars (NZ Herald, December 6) on various forms of transport, hoping that it will all be used. Meanwhile public transport is frequent, comfortable and largely empty. There is only one way to get people to use the existing transport and that is to make it free. We would see an immediate response, with roads less congested and emissions reduced and it won't cost anything like a billion dollars. In weighing up whether to take transport or the car, the car wins every time. If public transport is free, the car will seldom win.
Susan Grimsdell, Auckland Central.
