Foreign policy shift a mistake

Well done, Richard Prebble, for stating that abandoning New Zealand’s independent foreign policy would be a grave mistake (NZ Herald, April 17).

Like most other self-reflecting, independent countries, we will do well by steering clear from warmongering. The notion that a major war across the Pacific is inevitable is stupefying.

One of New Zealand’s greatest attractions is its perceived location away from war and strife. The country that lives in peace with all its neighbours. Let us all protect that valuable image.

Frank Olsson, Freemans Bay.

Guns and mental health

In response to Vincent West (“Strict gun laws must remain”, NZ Herald, April 16) I would like to mention that Switzerland, the country I grew up in, has the most guns per capita in the world. Every able-bodied man is enlisted in the army, has to serve compulsory military training and has to keep his army rifle at home to be at the front ready for combat within hours of the order being given. Mass shootings, however, are unheard of.

If such tragedies keep on happening here when they do not seem to occur in another country, in spite of the opportunity being there, then the question must be — why? I worked in mental health back in Switzerland and am a sheep farmer here. Switzerland has an excellent health system, mental health included, and a person is not as alone there as they are here when they need help.

Better mental healthcare and monitoring could — and quite likely would — prevent more tragedies than taking guns from people who need them for pest control.

Rita Shaw, Otorohanga. ¯

Mall security

Is it time shopping malls beef up their security? A few suggestions could be: walk-through security checks, like at airports, for concealed weapons; an undercover armed police officer walking the mall during shopping hours; birdseye security cameras, like at casinos, monitoring people’s demeanour; and security guards wearing bullet/stab-proof vests so they can approach offenders.

This is not an easy fix, especially when lone wolves are involved, but few places seem to be safe these days.

Glenn Forsyth, Taupo¯ .

Top marks for students

David Seymour (NZ Herald, April 10) criticised students for taking time off to protest about climate change, saying they needed to stay in school to eventually advance more technological solutions.

Climate change is here now, costing us billions, and technological solutions are also here now, waiting to be implemented.

What is not here now is resolve on the part of the Boomer generation to lead society into accepting the need for immediate action in the face of overwhelming evidence. It seems the easiest path for politicians is to fan the populist view that we need to do nothing and ride the wave that results.

These students feel they are having to take action to persuade an irresponsible Government to do something to implement change, rather than just pretend they will do so. I feel they should be congratulated rather than criticised.

Jeremy West, Remuera.

Tunnel threat

The biggest threat to road tunnels is liquefaction. In an earthquake, liquefaction weakens the ground beneath, affecting the structural stability of the tunnel. Concrete linings develop traverse cracks perpendicular to the tunnel axis due to ground movement caused by such liquefaction.

San Francisco had to abandon all but a few of its proposed underground road tunnels directly due to such liquefaction

during earthquakes.

On at least six such occasions in earthquake-prone Wellington, liquefaction made its menacing presence felt, and should be of prime consideration before going ahead with Simeon Brown’s proposed 4km underground road tunnel.

Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.

Kikuyu blight

On a recent trip to the Far North, I was shocked to see the increasing dominance of kikuyu grass in the pastures, and a distinct lack of livestock.

Kikuyu is an excellent grass for lawns — vigorous and easily grown, drought resistant, it produces a soft, matted surface when regularly mown. It thrives in warmer climates and suffers from frosts that predominate further south.

As a pasture, kikuyu is demanding. Once established, the grass sends out runners (stolons) that put down roots. These runners tear off when cattle and sheep are grazing.

While the green grass is beneficial, the gnarly, rooted stolons often carry earth with them and are distasteful. Unless kikuyu is controlled with regular grazing or mulching, the stolons dominate other pastures. They will climb and cover fences, shrubs and anything in their path.

We in the city should also be aware of kikuyu, as it spreads in the now mostly untended city parks that surround our maunga.

Nick Rowe, Greenlane.