Letter of the week: Alec Oleh Krechowec, Glendene.
Both sides of my family suffered this kind of "liberation" in the Second World War in Ukrainian territory when it was liberated from German occupation.
On my mother's side in Eastern Ukraine, my grandfather was shot by the Russian-controlled NKVD. My uncle was forced
into the Red Army only to perish near Warsaw.
On my father's side, my other grandfather was murdered by the NKVD in prison, two aunties were raped and murdered by "liberating" Russians. One of my uncles was bayoneted in the stomach and left to die by the roadside. The other uncle joined the Ukrainian insurgent Army UPA and perished on some lonely battlefield.
I see, after 76 years, the same tactics being employed on Ukrainian innocent civilians in the present conflict. To sum up my personal losses in the Second World War, I lost one to the Germans and six to the Russian "liberators".
Back then, the Ukrainian nation was caught helpless between two ruthless powers. Now their army is fighting tooth and nail for them.
Harsh reality
My interpretation of mandate is a temporary law passed by the New Zealand Government for the good of all New Zealanders. If a job (or other reason) is lost due to this law (mandate) you are now unemployed. You have no rights.
You are just another person who broke the law. You apply for work just like any other unemployed person. You broke the law and (rightly) should pay for it.
Forget the PC attitude that this does not apply now. It applies when charged and it is the law. Live with it.
Terry Johnson, Tauranga.
Brand Ardern
I've always understood branding (Fran O'Sullivan, Weekend Herald, March 26) as the means by which a product is made appealing to people, often at the expense of "the whole truth".
It's worrying to consider that Jacinda Ardern, a brand name since 2017, is also undergoing a rebrand by an aggressive marketing machine that describes her as "a powerful weapon in the Foreign Affairs arsenal", language which in these current times is fairly unsavoury.
As with cigarette brands and other similar life-compromising products, I wonder what dubious additives we may be missing.
Just be yourself, Jacinda, save us mega-dollars in an unnecessary personal-brand campaign, and let the public be the judge based on overall performance.
Linda Blincko, Devonport.
One-way traffic
Since 2015, Australia has deported 2544 people to New Zealand - most of them criminals – known as 501s. These deportees exacerbate our gang problem and indirectly impose major costs on our country. Australia also left New Zealand to deal with a stateless woman Isis sympathiser and her children last year.
In 2020, our Prime Minister told Scott Morrison: "Do not deport your people and your problems." His response is Australia currently trying to pass a law making 501 deportations easier.
We're now told (Weekend Herald, March 26) Australia has agreed to New Zealand taking 150 "boat people" annually as refugees. These people, held on Manus Island, tried to gain illegal entry into Australia. Over three years, New Zealand will take 450 "boat people" off Australia's hands.
Why is New Zealand doing this? Australia regularly jettisons unwanted people on to New Zealand. Our response is to take 450 people who tried to enter Australia illegally, off their hands. This looks like a win-win for Australia; and a lose-lose for NZ.
Of course, we have to honour our international obligations to accept refugees. Receiving 450 dispossessed Ukrainian war refugees, who haven't done anything illegal, would seem a far better choice.
Patricia Schnauer, Milford.
Boosting business
Two stories (Weekend Herald, March 26) were published about links between government and business.
The good story was about the Prime Minister's plan to lead various missions of business leaders around the Pacific Rim and the world, to publicise our opening up with the relaxing of Covid restrictions.
Some people call these affairs "junkets", and no doubt those participating get to have some fun on their travels. But they don't really cost very much, and they will leverage the Prime Minister's undoubted star status overseas to the benefit of "NZ Inc." and all of us.
The bad story was about a developer complaining the Prime Minister's officials won't give him $20 million to fund a Covid vaccine enhancer.
This vaccine may be a good idea. I hope it is. If it is, then the private sector will fund it. If it is not a good idea, then the taxpayer should not fund it.
The business sector is by far the biggest recipient of taxpayer handouts, after superannuitants - $8.5 billion/year, last time I looked.
That's where the real junketeering goes on.
Tim Hazledine, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Auckland.
