Whanganui letters:CO2 emissions, cultures and The Property Rich List

Unwanted CO2 emissions caused by internal combustion engines. Photo / NZME

CO2 emissions

Re New Zealanders driven by love affair with cars (Opinion, May 29). Reading the article between the lines, it seems that Mr Rob Rattenbury is able to convert to driving electric, reducing the unwanted CO2 emissions caused by internal combustion engines.

However Mr Rattenbury prefers to wait. Wait for what? Wait for more damage to life on this planet? Waiting for others who take life more seriously by putting in their efforts to reduce the CO2 emissions?

This is not the spirit ... Mr Rattenbury, you can do better and change your mind. We all need to move from bad habits into a sustainable lifestyle.
ROMBOUT van RIEMSDIJK
Whanganui

We have many cultures in New Zealand

Congratulations to Calvyn Jonker (Letters, June 2) for abandoning our suffocating "political correctness" to demonstrate some intestinal fortitude in expressing views on the new, potentially racially divisive, teaching material.

The outcome of such teaching will likely have the opposite effect of all that which good-thinking people most want - a non-racist society. We have many cultures in New Zealand, and we should never overlook all people's right to observe and practise these in their own way.

In the final analysis, we must remember that no matter what our racial background, the colour of our skin is of no moment; we are all human, all have red blood, and all have a right to a life sans racial prejudice.

To quote HG Wells: "Our true nationality is mankind". Let us embrace that!
V MEREDITH
Whanganui

Racism

Calvyn Jonker (Letters, June 2) in a courteous manner summed up racism in New Zealand.

What he has not realised, because my letter of May 17, was not published, is that this racism is already in our schools.

In Whangarei a high school child was made to stand in front of their classmates and denounce their white heritage and white privilege.

As I said in my previous letter, would this be tolerated of other racial groups, I think not.

Where did this come from? The USA is rife with this indoctrination in schooling and its origins, 1923 in Germany.

As was said by Mr Jonker it is definitely mind and thought control and needs to be eliminated here in New Zealand before it becomes a plague that will benefit no one.
LAURINE CURRIN
Whanganui East

The Property Rich List

I was a little bemused to see the coloured supplement for Monday's paper (May 31) entitled The Property Rich List.

I found it all a little vulgar in light of the housing crisis we have today.

The gloated displays of opulence highlight the disparities of wealth we now have in this country.

I hope we do not normalise extremes of wealth and see it as aspirational.

To me aspirational New Zealand is about a home for all, not decadent mansions for a few.
MIKE CONNOR
Whanganui

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