The Herald article, "Diversity brings enrichment" notes, "It would be naive to think New Zealand is immune from terror threats" and cites New Zealand's top source countries for quota refugees as Syria and Afghanistan, which are "two countries ranked in the top five most active terrorist countries ... " But, says the article, safety depends on how well a country integrates its immigrants.
A terrorist is not a legitimate immigrant. They are not going to change their intentions as a result of being well integrated into the community. They have a completely different agenda. The only way to ensure security is to prevent their entry at the border.
Chris van Ryn, Auckland Central.
Genuine concern
Call them a bigot - that seems to be the way to squash dissent against unbridled immigration these days. Immigration which is predicted to repeat last year's record number or perhaps even exceed it. New Zealanders have long accepted and approved of immigration which has been the making of New Zealand.
But the strain on our infrastructure and overcrowded schools, hospitals and roads and lack of building, causing houses to be crammed too full of residents for comfort, is a cause for deep concern.
John Key's response to criticism on these issues was to say he was "thinking about it" and never do anything, for which he had a lot of support. Is Bill English going to do the same?
To be worried is not bigotry but very real concern.
Barbara Sutton, St Johns.
Hypocritical
President Trump is well within his rights to ban Muslims from America, and is doing nothing more than following through with what he campaigned on. Although it seems odd that Muslim majority countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Afghanistan were left out of the ban, it is disingenuous for other countries to try to dictate American foreign policy.
Rather than appearing hypocritical why don't all the concerned countries (including New Zealand) open their doors and take on the ever increasing number of refugees? Because, stated simply, not many citizens want uncapped immigration or refugees.
Ray Calver, Grey Lynn.
Ohariu contest
Peter Dunne and Greg O'Connor are both valued and exceptional contributors to New Zealand life. I don't think Labour have thought through ramifications on standing Greg against Peter. The work each does is complimentary, and while I am not in favour of a change of Government, I feel we need them both to keep the National Party on their toes.
National could quite easily withdraw from "gifting" the seat to Peter Dunne, stand a top liner, say like Sir Ralph Norris, and we would loose two highly respected people from the system.
Peter Dodd, Chatswood.
Shore cleaned up
About 10 years ago, North Shore City embarked on an ambitious project. Ratepayers of older suburbs were instructed to have wastewater systems checked and stormwater separated from the sewers. Old cracked pipes which allowed ground water to seep in were also replaced. The householders paid around $3000, plus extra rates for the city to do the same to the shared infrastructure.
As a result, our beaches at Takapuna and Devonport are far cleaner than they were 20 years ago when outfalls regularly discharged raw sewage after rain.
Residents of Northcote Pt were incensed that, after cleaning up their systems, raw sewage from Cox's Bay was drifting on to their beaches, and many calls were made to Auckland City to follow our example. It didn't happen.
Ruth Ell, Takapuna.
Tank solution
If all the stand-alone houses in Auckland were encouraged to have a rainwater tank, considerable pressure could be taken off the storm-water system during heavy rain. The tank water could be used on the garden, the car, and also attached to one of the toilets.
In Melbourne, friends in an inner suburb found it was compulsory when extending their house to put in a rainwater tank, and placed it under their deck. In Canberra many houses built some years ago had a tank installed which was attached to one of the toilets.
A subsidy system to help implement this would be a cheap way of helping alleviate the disgraceful pollution of the harbour.
P.A. Tobin, Waiheke Island.
Odd bedfellows
Who'd be a Green MP in the days of Trump, his rejection of TPP putting them on the same page but politically impossible for them to admit it. In spite of Green MP Barry Coates' bold assertion that free trade agreements are no "magic bullet" for growing exports, the one we have with Australia has propelled our growth for decades, complete with its disputes resolution mechanism - think apple export bans resolved.
Professor Jane Kelsey makes the even sillier claim trade is a "contest of ideas" while they studiously neglect to proffer any. If the Greens are to realise their potential as a force for good in this country they have to start shedding their doctrinal straitjacket when it comes to doable pragmatic ideas for growing our way to a better life, than mired in the culture wars of yesteryear.
Phil O'Reilly, New Lynn.
No ethical compass
Donald Trump's stated opinion on the US military using torture is very simple: "It works". Not a flicker of recognition that the use of torture might involve ethical issues. No sir. Just: "It works". So does a nuclear bomb. Here's hoping he gives that option a bit more thought, if it ever arises.
I don't know what is more worrying - that such an arrogant, ignorant, narcissistic man with no apparent moral compass should become US President, or that scores of millions of Americans thought he would be just great for the job.
Glen Stenhouse, St Heliers.
Present terminus is fine
Today's buses generally fail the litmus test of being attractive beasts in any context you consider them; visual, noise, fumes, even the journey at times. However crazy-talk, such as using the hard-fought public space of Queens Wharf or dumping a logically central urban facility on the people of South Auckland, abounds.
Surely the volume needs to be turned up on the original resource consent for a bus terminus, ear-marked at its current central site long before the controversial arrival of the casino. It seems SkyCity have indicated it is no longer convenient or fitting for them to house the bus terminus as agreed in 1992 by the developers. In the absence of a requested variation to the consent Auckland Transport has nonetheless leapt into action.
The development of infrastructure and resource consents built around them serve the purpose of public good. A centrally located intercity bus terminus has served the public well to date - what has really changed here? Quay St buses might well be accommodated by looking to opportunities created by the new City Rail Link stations.
Mik Smellie, Auckland Central.
Valuable inexperience
When, out of the blue, the Labour Government imposed Rogernomics on the country, Prime Minister David Lange cheerfully admitted the manifesto which helped them get elected was not worth the paper it was written on. New American President Donald Trump has already got on and done several things he said he would do during his protracted election campaign. How things have changed.
Interesting though to note that unlike Lange he had no previous political experience before gaining office. Could he have set a precedent for Gareth Morgan?
H.E.H. Perkins, Botany Downs.
Trump not alone
I understood that the democratic system of the United States prevented a President becoming dictatorial. Obama pleaded for gun control but was never able to implement it. Yet everything reported on Trump focuses on his decisions as if his power is absolute.
Would it be possible to acknowledge that Trump's orders are condoned by the ruling party? Protests and demonstrations should be against the elected Government, not against one man.
Graeme Mackay, Kerikeri.
