Self-driving cars have clear flaws
A few years ago I was riding my motorbike in the country and I approached a blind left-hand corner. As I slowed I noticed a herd of cows in the paddock on my right who were staring intently in the direction I was travelling. I realised they could see something unusual and so I braked heavily. When I rounded the corner the way was blocked by a number of steers that had escaped their paddock. This all happened in a matter of moments and it was my observation of animal behaviour that probably saved my life. The outcome could have been very different with a selfdriving car.
Lindsay Johnston, Sandringham. teacher shortages and child poverty, care home desperation, rising youth suicide, polluted waterways and continued Auckland gridlock: John Key’s legacy.
Kapiti joins regions cut off by Air NZ, millions spent on Barack Obama’s golf and “dinner with the elite” visit for no discernible benefit to Air NZ or the country. The key influencer, John Key, Air NZ’s latest board member.
Lesley Griffiths, Devonport. No surprises there. That could well cover the Australian cricket team actions in South Africa. It is time Australian sporting teams as a whole looked at the way they play sport as most countries regard them as arrogant, abrasive and the team to hate.
Cricket is particularly bad with recent captains lacking sporting spirit and using dubious sledging tactics to upset the concentration of other teams. Often when teams win their public overlook some of the methods used. However, in this instance damning irrefutable evidence has been thrust under their very noses.
To their credit Australians have reacted with disgust at their team’s cheating. Confidence in their national team will not return whilst guilty parties remain. Cricket Australia has the answer in its hands. Let us hope it is brave enough to make the right decisions.
Reg Dempster, Albany happened and like Hobsonville, it is more likely that this will just become more houses.
For the residents of Kapiti, although this might be difficult after all these years with this great air service, it is time to think about the poor people in Whangaparaoa and a bit further north of Auckland, who just have to live with the situation Kapiti folk will shortly be in.
Barry Langton, Mt Roskill. Please don't think the Piopio community supports Donald Trump after the Sunday profile on one of our residents. As an American living in Piopio I've shaken my head many times since the signs and flag pole were erected, although I have resisted the urge to deface anyone's private property since I believe in free speech.
I might note that proper etiquette with respect to the Stars & Stripes is that Mr Burr's American flag should be taken down at sunset or lighted at night, but that's a minor point relative to his unwavering support for Trump. We'll see if Chris Liddell's reputation survives being involved in this disastrous presidency, and how long he lasts in his new role.
Karen Barrett, Piopio. China is off to a great start in the upcoming global trade war. First China plays the Br’er Rabbit strategy. Please Mr Trump, anything but tariffs on steel. Trump obligingly throws China into the steel tariff briar patch, with Canada, Australia and Mexico, hurting allies’ exports far more than China's paltry 2.5 per cent steel exports to the US.
China's next move is classic divide and conquer. China's tit-for-tat tariffs largely target goods produced by California, the one state where voters despise, and will object to, Trump's isolationist policies. The one state where local government has already suggested secession from America after climate change denier Trump took the US out of the Paris accord.
New Zealand is not a bystander in this game and tariffs will eventually bite us Downunder. Disunity, disloyalty and despair will not make America, or global harmony, great again.
China 2, US 0. Lori Dale, Opotiki.