Our true founding document was Victoria’s Royal Charter

Not only did Massey’s vice-chancellor Jan Thomas transgress on free speech and her efforts to deflect the issue, but in her enthusiastic support of the Treaty she showed her ignorance of the histories of her homeland and New Zealand.

The Treaty only made New Zealand a dependency of the Colony of New South Wales, subject to its governance and legislation. It was not until May 3 1840 when Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/ Letters Patent was issued that New Zealand became a self-governing colony with its own governor, parliament, constitution, judiciary, flag and “one set of laws for all”.

It is our true Founding Document, a fact that has been avoided or ignored by subsequent governments, the Ma¯ ori elitists, many academics and our esteemed historians. Bryan Johnson, Omokoroa.

Migrant exploitation #1

The revelations of shocking migrant exploitation and tax evasion should be a wake-up call for the Government.

New labour law reforms proposed by the Labour Party are a step in the right direction to give unions and workers much greater power and protection, and needs to be supported by NZ First.

Along with changes to labour laws and immigration policy, there needs to be real enforcement and deterrents to those participating in migrant exploitation. An effective solution would be to extend the policy of deporting those here illegally, to also include those convicted of migrant scams and exploitation, back to their country of origin where applicable. G Sinclair, Taupaki.

Migrant exploitation #2

The recent highlighting of migration exploitation in New Zealand reveals a major problem with this country’s immigration policy and labour law enforcement.

The poorly thought out and lax immigration policies of governments since 1986 has resulted in major problems where so much of our economy now appears to be reliant on cheap and illegal immigrant labour.

Labour and NZ First need to put into action their pre-election promises to significantly reduce immigration and to urgently give Immigration NZ and the Labour Department much greater funding and resources to protect everyone. R Anderson, Pukekohe.

Domestic air monopoly

Christopher Luxon (HoS editorial, September 23) makes no mention of domestic air travel . . . just Air NZ’s international woes. Perhaps his letter outlining their troubles indicates domestic travellers will have to further prop up their international flights. I fly AucklandBlenheim a lot. One-way, tomorrow’s flights are $216 for the cheapest flight, while the most expensive $474 . Easy when you are a virtual monopoly within NZ to put the boot into domestic travellers. Steve Hotchin, Ranui.

Lessons from Cosby

The trial and conviction of Bill Cosby is a long and sad story although there are a few lessons that can be learned.

The first is the reality that even your heroes are fallible and that “stranger danger” is more likely to be “all people can be dangerous”. It is sad that we should all be cautious of everyone as the result of a few people’s actions.

This is another story of the status of being celebrity seems to give an immunity to the normal laws and code of behaviour of most people. It is pleasing to see this is not the legal reality and that they are subject to the same rules and more importantly punishments.

The 60 or more women who told similar stories shows how the #MeToo movement and the need to speak up is so important although no one should be condemned for not doing so. There is also a need to review that statute of limitations as the crime is still an event that occurred and the consequences and pain may be never ending.

Comedians can be funny but sexual assailants are not funny, they are evil without doubt. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne.