Beauden Barrett of the Hurricanes puts in a kick. Photo / Photosport
Might a potential "Achilles' heel" for this forthcoming test series versus the Lions be the All-Blacks' "goal-kicking"? The Lions come with at least five recognised goal-kickers who can all convert at around 80 per cent and from long-range.
But, who is the All Blacks' goal-kicker? Beauden Barrett, the likely starter for the All-Blacks at 10, is not even goal-kicking for the Hurricanes and does not have as strong a record as his Lions counter-parts.
I believe Hansen and his team of coaches will seriously consider Jordie Barrett to start - either at fullback or at 12 or even on the wing, as part of an effective back three "bomb-disposal squad". The risk, of course is that Jordie is uncapped - but like his brothers Beauden and Scott he seems to have the calm temperament and natural skills required for test rugby. Above all, from an All Black strategic point of view, he has a very sound goal-kicking record.
If Scott Barrett comes off the bench, then there could be three Barrett brothers on the field at one time representing the All Blacks - would that be a record?
Angus Mackay, Dunedin.
Andrew Little wants a breather on immigration. David Lange had a cuppa before undermining Rogernomics and the Fourth Labour Government. Rob Muldoon froze the entire economy when his economic policies failed. All are examples of political leaders were unable to cope with the economic challenges of the day.
Last week's BERL report showed the mismatch between mostly-skilled job vacancies and the 13 per cent of young folk 15-24 who are not employed and not involved in any form of training or education. A freeze on immigration will do nothing to help this disengaged and unmotivated group. Jumping on the populist anti-immigration bandwagon will not help the unemployed, the economy or the Labour Party.
R. N. Mirkin, Muriwai Beach.
How many realise that if all bank loans were paid, there would not actually be any money in circulation? Money is created when banks make loans.
It is interesting to see Don Brash's retaliations against Bryan Gould's assertions that banks create money "out of thin air". But it is true!
An alternative is for the Government to take away this extraordinary power from banks and to make the creation of money a government function; a function which I suspect most people believe is already the case. This is not the same as having the central bank "print money" by relaxing lending policies, resulting in more cheap loans, which must still be repaid.
Here's the difference - government creation of money is not based on debt. It is and should be based on direct spending of money into circulation by the Government itself. To do this in a way that promotes the best interests of society means the process would need to be depoliticised ie by the formation of an independent money creation authority that cannot be influenced by the government of the day.
Historically banks have always made lending decisions (and therefore money creation decisions) based on what is most profitable for banks which is perfectly understandable. But this *system* is flawed and is costing us billions.
Peter Judd, Mangere Bridge.
So "Investor gets $95K in house flip", really? If the second purchaser/vendor takes off $32,000 commission, GST of $5000 then the $58,000 "profit" isn't bad at all (I gather that the first owner wished it was his).
However, then there's conveyancing fees and tax on the profit and the end result is nowhere near the $95K claimed in the article.
Michael Dragicevich, Whangarei.
Professional sportspeople are in the unique situation whereby they can have a career lasting around 10 to 15 years and depending on their prowess earn ridiculous amounts of money which should set them up for the rest of their days. Why do so many get it so wrong?
Those who get convicted for behaving illegally, violently or in any way which will bring disrepute to their sport, club or international team should be told that, even before the ink dries on their contract, any such behaviour will result in instant dismissal, as it does in the non-sport professional world.
So often lenient punishment is handed out by our courts because of the possible repercussions on the offender's future prospects. The courts don't ruin the offender's chances, they've already done that themselves and should suffer the consequences.
Young sports fans put their sports idols on pedestals and aspire to be just like them. Let's make sure through whatever it takes to get the message across that our sports professionals are worthy of the right to occupy those pedestals.
Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.
It seems ironic that Pakehas should be criticised for not pronouncing Maori words the "Maori way" when you consider that so much of the so-called "te reo Maori" is made up of mispronounced English names and words. For a start, Te Tiriti is a mispronunciation of "The Treaty", puka should be pronounced "book" and even names such as Tipene and Hone are mispronounced. They should be "Stephen" and "John".
If it's acceptable for Maori to have their own pronunciation of English words, why then is there a fuss when Maori words are Anglicised? Is it irony - or hypocrisy?
John Neave, Hamilton.
Lewis Meyer is right. Anyone that is omnipotent is unlikely to care what people may say about him or her. However, the blasphemy laws were passed in the 17th century when church leaders were afraid that freedom of speech could undermine their self-assumed power and influence.
That no longer applies. But I sincerely hope that the case is pursued against Stephen Fry so that it can be taken to the International Court of Human Rights where it can be clearly proved that what he said was true and that to deny someone the right to speak the truth in this day and age contravenes their human rights, their right to freedom of speech and almost certainly the race relations acts.
Gerald Payman, Mt Albert.
The Salvation Army have been working with the "notorious chapter" of the Mongrel Mob, helping them and their whanau to overcome their P addictions. The funding for this programme will finish in July despite a 92 per cent success rate after six months. Minister Paula Bennett spoke with righteous indignation when justifying this pulling of funds, accusing these people of "... living in our state houses, taking our benefits, but dealing in P". To sanctimoniously cast these people adrift in such a judgmental way is the best way to perpetuate the social problems that emanate from gang culture.
Surely it is best to find common ground to work together to solve problems rather than cast certain people and their children adrift. We should always be prepared to reach out, and we must always guard against an "us" and "them" mentality. The funding should continue!
Niall Robertson, Balmoral.
Your correspondent Geoff Thomas recommends a bounty on pests as a way of eliminating them. I used to be a commercial possum trapper. The last thing I ever intended was to eliminate my source of income. I always moved on when numbers began to drop, leaving plenty of breeders to rebuild possum numbers. To commodify a pest is to guarantee its continuing existence. Sorry. The Government tried that years back with a possum bounty. Outcome: accessible possums cropped endlessly, replenished from the pool of difficult ones in the back country.
John Longden, Te Puru.
I was astonished to read that the monthly cost for melatonin to enable Jenny Cole's autistic grandson to sleep properly amounts to $75. Melatonin is a powerful amino acid that is naturally produced within the body. It seems a caution issued by the US Food and Drug Administration against its supplementary use has made the authorities in New Zealand, UK and Canada prevent its use unless medically prescribed, possibly because it is promoted as a cancer cure.
However, it is widely available in the US as a food supplement and it can be purchased online there at US$6 ($8.80) for 60 capsules of 3mcg.
The cost through Pharmac is preposterous and government funding should have been better considered. One should investigate obtaining it online with a doctor's prescription.
Gordon Edwards, Auckland Central.
The $25 million Powerball prize was not struck and will now roll over to $30 million.