The legal age for purchasing alcohol needs to be reviewed

A judge has released a 21-year-old without conviction for putting his hands down the undies of two males at a Labour Party youth programme because he was drunk.

The harm caused by alcohol is once more denied at the highest level by politicians and the judicial system who argue 18 is old enough to be responsible and buy your own booze.

The judge says that the “consequences of a conviction far outway the crime”. Does being drugged by a legal substance somehow exonerate this crime or is it really stupidity? Is this hands down undies or alcohol in the undies?

The age of purchase of alcohol needs reviewing given that crimes committed under the influence are being exonerated by the judiciary as just “stupid” irresponsible youth antics.

Steve Russell, Hillcrest

Common sense

Thanks to Kirsty Johnston for her comments on the Grace Millane case (HoS, November 24). At a barbecue on Sunday night all the women present totally agreed with your comments. I personally thought that both Grace and the witness who spoke about being choked were both on trial and I was concerned that the judge was steering the jury towards manslaughter.

My husband and I have a loving relationship and if he ever tried to strangle me, it would end. Sadly, people are normalising porn. That is also something all of us agreed on. Young people are dabbling in stuff just for fun. Sadly, Grace met a psychopath.

I am so thankful that 12 people had common sense and did not buy into the defence’s argument.

We all hope that the system will change and it will help women to speak up.

Sandra Hansen, Hastings

Comforting words

Kerre McIvor’s column (“Grace’s family channel pain into good”, HoS, November 24) was beautifully written. Kerre, I applaud your final sentence. I hope the Millane family take comfort from your words and do not dwell on the horrid aspects that were so publicly presented.

Heather Wheeler, Kerikeri

Too much information

Recently in New Zealand there have been several high-profile murder cases.

The public have been fed a massive amount of lurid detail often involving the habits of the victim. Is it necessary for us to be given so many intimate details of the diseased victims? In one case it was clear that the detail provided to the public was very distressing to the poor parents. The question I would like to ask the reporters and television crews is this: Would your families enjoy so much private detail being provided if any of you were unlucky enough to be murdered?

Johann Nordberg, Paeroa

Apology for real?

I fully understand there will be people out there who will probably hate me for saying this, but I cannot help but wonder if Jacinda Ardern’s Erebus apology is genuinely sincere, or a political stunt in preparation for election year.

Phil Chitty, Albany

On track to success

The proposed large new road-rail freight hub for Palmerston North recently announced by KiwiRail and Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones, is an excellent move towards creating a more sensible and sustainable transport model, with rail being used for long-haul and trucks for local distribution.

KiwiRail and the Government should expand on this and develop similar in Taupo¯ , building a much-needed rail line into the region linking with Rotorua and the Port of Tauranga or Kinleith.

Taupo¯ is strategically well-located in the centre of the North Island on State Highways 1 and 5 and is surrounded by a number of large plantation pine forests.

A rail line to Taupo¯ would link these forests to the mills and ports, helping reduce the number of logging trucks on roads in this region, and also be used for a new tourist train service from Auckland.

Isaac Broome, Pukekohe

1955

Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give her seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Parks’ act of defiance and the Montgomery bus boycott became important symbols of post-war civil rights movement. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. Parks said she acted as a private citizen “tired of giving in”.