There was a great moment before the game last night when the teams paid tribute to the victims of horrific violence in London. Some of those victims had severe knife wounds to the throat. A minute later the Blues performed a haka that ended with a throat-slitting gesture.
Peter Lange, Mt Eden.
Gulf row
Your excellent article on Qatar ignores some basic facts. Saudi Arabia is a theocratic monarchy which has been funding many mosques in Europe, including those used by extremists. Saudi Arabia has a war chest of many billions of dollars, some of which was donated to Clinton organisations (NZ donated too). Saudi Arabia is negotiating arms deals with the UK and the US, worth billions, while being friendly to Egypt and Israel. What was said to Trump on his recent tour is of interest, but it converted Mr Trump to an ally.
Qatar owns Al Jazeera which insists on talking truth, lately much diluted, which is an anathema to Saudi Arabia. I can see no reason for tanks not to roll into Qatar.
Neville Cameron, Coromandel.
Latest poll
According to 1 News, a majority is happy to go into the next general election backing the big parties, so that on present polling National could govern using only two seats from the lame-duck, 1 per cent, "don't care where as long as we are there" parties. I guess the well-heeled, the optimistic, those who are not worried about housing, and those who believe God will provide, are quite happy with a Government that is prepared to put a positive spin on our politics regardless of the deteriorating social conditions.
More of the same is not what the people of this once proud little country deserve, and our, "She will be right, and it's not our fault if She isn't", just will not cut it this time around. With acts of terror rife in Britain, Europe, and even at our back door in Australia, how long do we think it will be before such acts start to occur herein?
Dennis Pennefather, Te Awamutu.
Hold families to account
The current policy of the UK Government is the reason why terrorists are rampant in England. Imagine if Churchill had adopted May's plan to combat the terrorists? The country would have dumped him if he had been soft on war crimes, but this is what May's Government is doing. They do not have a strategy to hold families of those who offend to account or to inter them or deport them from the country or bring back capital punishment for these serious offences against the public at large.
This is the only sensible solution.
Bruce Woodley, Birkenhead.
Winston's wisdom
I am in full agreement with Winston Peters. It is the responsibility of Muslims to sort out their own. All other organisations, be it gangs, churches, schools or political parties, have to deal to their own. Why should Muslims be different?
They can make a difference if they wanted to. They need to "walk their talk" and sort out the terrorists in their midst.
Merla McCarthy, Tauranga.
That tackle
Gregor Paul writes that, since it's been 12 years since the previous Lions Tour, it's time that the British and Irish moved on from the dubious tackle made upon then Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll by senior All Blacks Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu.
Really?
He may like to take his own advice and tell his countrymen that, by his standards, we are 24 years past the use-by date for the infamous underarm delivery. There is the slight difference between the two events in that what Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to do was within the rules at the time. Not so the actions of Umaga and Mealamu in 2005.
What many found disappointing was that the officials and the NZRFU refused to accept that two All Blacks upending an opposing player and dumping him head and shoulders into the ground constituted a spear tackle. O'Driscoll was stretchered off the field and didn't play for six months, Umaga and Mealamu received no penalty. No wonder the Lions were aggrieved.
Kerry Smith, Te Atatu South.
Cultural tradition
The Haka is a cultural tradition of Aotearoa New Zealand; it is a challenge presented only to those deemed worthy of such a challenge. Our history and culture is not presented lightly and great consideration is given to such performances. For James Corrigan to suggest otherwise is an insult. The only atrocity here is that James Corrigan in his ignorance linked New Zealand to the terror in the UK. Corrigan should apologise to New Zealand and everyone who made the journey to our home where they have been welcomed.
Craig Dalton, East Tamaki.
Blasphemy
Claire Trevett reports gleefully that President Macron didn't just shake President Trump's hand, "he squeezed the bejeezus out of it". We Christians are in such a blind-spot in modern secular sensibility that it's easy not to notice the problem here. Using the name of the person we love best as a substitute for "s***" is extremely hurtful. It doesn't matter if it is, or used to be, blasphemy, it hurts members of the community. Lots of people use this expression carelessly, but should know better.
Gavan O'Farrell, Lower Hutt.
Screen time
Last week the Herald reported the latest Ministry of Health guidelines for children's screen time, recommending no time for under 2s and less than an hour a day for older preschoolers. The ministry notes that people feel compelled to introduce educational screen time but that this does not mean screens are good for them. "Under 5s should spend as little time as possible watching screens and more time playing inside and outside." Yet New Zealand infants under 3 spend on average 1-3 hours on screens, increasing with age. Can we please see iPads and PC games removed from our kindergartens now?
Marie Cullen, Pt Chevalier.
Netball time
Did anyone else notice that in Monday night's game between the Magic and the Pulse, the TV clock always finished after the official time was called by the umpire. In Wednesday night's game, Steel v Mystics, the TV clock was still going when the official time was called. In the first game it wouldn't have made any difference as the Pulse were well ahead, but in the second, the time difference could have robbed the Mystics of a draw.
Liz Sampson, Mission Bay.
Ageing tenants
Fiona Allen supports Niki Rauti's eviction and I am presenting another point of view. The Government's sale of public housing to developers for profit results in an older person's struggle against eviction from her family home of 21 years.
Given pricey rentals and houses, why must our Government privatise public housing and sell it to a developer to build expensive houses? This situation represents a tragic blindness to the plight of low income people, some sleeping in cars. As someone who has cared for older people in their homes I have seen how independence is facilitated by ageing in their beloved home enjoying family memories, doing daily chores in a familiar setting and remaining in their local community.
Caroline Mabry, Glen Eden.
Divided tribe
When the Treaty Settlements began we were promised that they would be all submitted and settled by 2014. Therefore it was disappointing to see Treaty negotiator Chris Finlayson on 1 News on Tuesday sounding angry and frustrated that Ngapuhi have yet to even organise their submission. It seems inter-tribal bickering is causing this seriously overdue hold-up. Perhaps a sharp reminder to those in the North dragging the chain would help get them to the negotiating table, something along the lines of a "use it or lose it" statute of limitations.
Colleen Wright, Botany Downs.
