TEXTS 2 ED

Tell us what you think. Send a text to 021 241 4568, write HBT then your message. Max of 150 characters per text.

● Bryan Gould has defined MMP. The whole point, he says, is to ensure Parliament cannot be steam-rollered by a single party and represent a wider range of interests and views than those of one party. Tough on the Nats when they believe they were born to rule, but there you have it. MMP is doing its job.

● Mark Mitchell, you forgot to mention that, under nine years of National, how many community police stations were closed?

● From day dot Jacinda has fought more for refugees instead of our own homeless people . . . disgusting.

● Jacinda Ardern’s “stardust” is fading fast. The Sunday performance was hollow, no specifics, airy-fairy.

● A couple of bitter texters have launched an almost daily barrage of sneering comments about the PM. These rants already sound like a stuck record but expect them to whine on for three years — or six if the Coalition Government retains power.

● To the person who thinks the Cape Kidnappers name reverting to its original Ma¯ori one is a “disgrace” because “these people” (presumably Ma¯ori) are “rewriting history”: Oh, the irony. But that will be lost on you.

● More Pa¯keha¯ should speak out about the texters slamming Ma¯ori Language Week and Ma¯ori place names. Such meanspiritedness to our own countrymen/women is repulsive. NZ isn’t just about those of us who are white. Some Kiwis need to be more considerate to Ma¯ori. Rein in your unenlightened views.

● What happened to the Flaxmere Community Garden? I went to see if anything was ready to harvest and sadly there was nothing. It used to be quite plentiful, with vegetables all year around.

● Too many incidents of police officers getting attacked. A 10-year stint in jail for the perpetrators might sort it . Seems the length of jail time at this point is drawn out of a hat, so varied.

● Thanks to John Redman and friends for the outstanding Frank Sinatra concert Friday night at St Matthew’s. Everyone was swinging. Come back soon.

● Hastings has done it again — 50 more jobs coming here.

● Due to the serious rugby concussions, Health and Safety should insist all players wear crash helmets and shoulder padding, same as the American NFL.

Thank you for texting in your views. Please note that owing to the anonymous nature of texts we will not publish unfair personal attacks in this column. — Ed