Sussi Stephens, Orewa.
Maternity overload
I feel sorry for young mothers and mothers to be and fathers who read of the tragedies that can occur if you "sleep on your back", and other advice given out today about food you shouldn't have and things you shouldn't do when you are expecting a baby. It is a natural process. Over 50 years ago when we were expecting babies we enjoyed all foods, did a reasonable amount of walking and didn't worry. Too much information is given out by books, newspapers and magazines about how your baby should progress, eat and sleep. Stop worrying and enjoy.
Rosemary Goldie, Newmarket.
Letter of regret
It is extremely disappointing the Prime Minister has seen fit to make what looks like an apology for New Zealand having taken a lead at the Security Council to admonish Israel for its illegal and immoral activities in the Palestinian territories that it occupies. For once we did the right thing and it is outrageous that this has been turned into a reason to crawl away with our tail between our legs.
J. Saunders, Waitakere.
Double speak
The Israelis think it is an apology but Gerry and Bill don't. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be reported in New Zealand so more political doublespeak can continue. I thought we are attempting to right our asset stealing of the past with the Treaty settlement process. Obviously this Government thinks it OK for the Israelis to steal assets and sanction it with their double standards. The apology should be given to all fair-minded New Zealanders.
R. Harpur, Tokoroa.
NZ Maori team
We're a funny old place sometimes, especially with our rugby. Long gone are expressions like "Maori time" and "we've made them honorary whites, so look out South Africa", but we still field a race-based team against visiting internationals. Why haven't Dr Brash and the others picked this up? Did Hobson really say, "He iwi tahi tatau, except for rugby"? Some Pakeha are better players than some Maori All Blacks. We know this because they are All Blacks. Perhaps they could be designated "honorary Maori" and be eligible. But then the team would be All Blacks, and the match would be just another test.
Gary Ferguson, Epsom.
Face value
It has taken a series of studies by Otago University scientists to conclude that if a person's name fits their face shape, they are more likely to be trusted and liked. So what do we do with this information? Change our name, or change our face? Use it to deceive others about our true intentions? There is a saying from the 1940's: "You can never tell a book by its cover". How much time and money did it take for these learned scientists to come to the same conclusion? I would have thought a university would have better research projects to fund than this timewasting psycho-babble.
Carol Johnson, Orewa.
Israel not solely to blame
Margalit Toledano suggests Israel is solely responsible for the ongoing occupation of Palestinians. The truth is far more complex. The Palestinian establishment has failed its people by not recognising that its greatest asset is Israeli public opinion, and has failed to take advantage of that by convincing Israelis it genuinely wants peaceful co-existence. Israel entered into the Oslo Accords with great hope and got suicide bombs. Israel disbanded settlements and withdrew unilaterally from Gaza over 10 years ago, which resulted in Hamas, whose stated mission is to destroy Israel, taking over and bombarding her with thousands of rockets. In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority's leader (Israel's apparent "partner for peace") denies Jewish connection to the land, and incites and rewards terrorism. Palestinians have refused several well-documented opportunities to have a viable autonomous state. Polls show that a significant majority of Israelis still support the two state solution, and therefore the Palestinians' right to a homeland, but Israelis will not sacrifice their own homeland for that end. When there is a Palestinian leadership willing to abandon rejectionism and accept Israel's right to exist as the Jewish homeland, Palestinians will have their homeland.
Juliet Moses, St Mary's Bay.
Low test
David Seymour is incorrect in claiming that persons applying for euthanasia need to be deemed "of sound mind" as nowhere do these words appear in his bill. In fact the bar for mental competence is set extremely low. All that is required is that the person is "mentally capable of understanding the nature and consequences of assisted dying". To be blunt, the first part means the person understands a doctor will be authorised to kill them, and that once this is done, that they will be dead. Not exactly rocket science. There is no protection in this bill for those suffering from depression or psychiatric conditions, as the majority of such people would have no difficulty understanding these two very basic points. This fact alone should set off alarm bells among the public, as should the knowledge that in the Netherlands and Belgium, growing numbers of patients with such challenges are being euthanased. A British Medical Journal study (July 2015) about psychiatric euthanasia cases in Belgium found 58 per cent of patients were depressed and 50 per cent had a personality disorder. If we care about the vulnerable we cannot let this happen here. We cannot allow this bill to pass.
Deborah Penk, Glen Eden.
Auckland entry charge
Andrew Little's idea of restricting immigration is well-meaning but will be counter-productive. New Zealand is still a young country with a small population and we need new migrants to keep growing and expanding our economy. We just don't want them all settling in Auckland. Phil Goff is well-meaning too about solving Auckland's transport woes but seems to struggle coming up with ideas. To me the easy answer could be to instantly impose a $10 toll on each of Auckland's three motorways. Exemptions could be given to all buses, trucks, commercial vehicles and private cars with two or more occupants. If this doesn't get people out of their cars and on to buses, trains, bikes and ferries then simply increase it until it does. Desparate times call for desparate measures. If all else fails we could consider making it illegal for people to actually drive single occupant cars during business hours on week days.
Glen Stanton, Mairangi Bay.
Auto attractions
Your correspondent Alisa Martin-Buss lists the benefits of taking the bus. However, all but one of her bullet points is easily trumped by the car.
• I don't need anyone to help me in and out of my car.
• I don't need to stand in my car as it is never overcrowded.
• If I have mobility issues, I don't need to walk to the bus stop.
• Thousands upon thousands of car parks are available.
• With many years witnessing bus drivers, I can assure Alisa they are not better drivers, they are in fact road bullies.
• If I am involved in an accident, I have less chance of killing the other person than a bus and my insurance will cover any damage.
• Ironically, if I had any temptation to road rage it would probably involve a bus driver (see point 5).
• If I want some exercise by walking I can park in a place that allows me that walk and I get to dictate how far that walk will be.
• I don't need to talk to anyone.
So with all of these advantages, why not use your car and have fewer busses on the road?
Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
