TO THE POINT

My passing interest in politics is elevated near election time by measuring the absurdity of election promises being made. I thought Trump’s wall was unbeatable until I heard Peter Dunne promising a 5km tunnel from Ngauranga to Johnsonville. Only a flying fox from Mt Kaukau to the airport to bypass the city traffic would beat that. Come on Greg O’Connor, why not?

Peter Robinson, Pauatahanui

Record floods in Bay of Plenty and Canterbury, massive icebergs in the Antarctic, raging fires in California and unprecedented floods in China. Rest assured, folks, the likes of Leighton Smith have assured us it’s all conspiracy perpetuated by money-hungry politicians and scientists. Thank heavens for the reality of talkback.

Ian Findlay, Napier

Sir Apirana Ngata is probably unchallenged as the greatest Maori leader of all time (Flashback, July 22). So why is his definitive work, The Treaty of Waitangi: An Explanation, unable to be mentioned in polite society? We have the ‘‘wisdom’’ of the current membership of the Waitangi Tribunal to guide us now, what would Ngata’s assessment possibly be worth, eh? Phil Hayward, Naenae

To the church groups in Australia protesting against tax havens, perhaps you could pull your weight and start paying tax on the $100 billion in tax-free revenue you rake in every year.

Sam Russell, Johnsonville

Could someone please explain how every time Japanese scientists carry out research on whales, the whales always end up on a plate.

Barry Godfrey, Avalon

The focus on Metiria Turei’s admissions is an excellent opportunity to deal with the reported disparity (Stuff, February 9) between scale of the offence and the punishment handed out for benefit fraud versus that for tax evasion.

Alan Reid, Wellington

If, despite their ‘‘tension-reducing’’ boxing match-ups, gangs continue to intrude on each other’s meth territories, perhaps the next tournament could be pickaxes in a dark cellar.

Jim Young, Belmont

If we had an Airport Flyer bus from Kapiti I’m sure it would take some pressure off the roads and save parking fees at the airport.

Clifford Matthews, Whitby

Re the report on the drastic decline in Western male fertility, among the many reasons listed is ‘‘tight underpants’’ so we urgently need a new dress code for our superheroes – Superman, Batman – before they are no more. After all, who but us OAPs remember Mighty Mouse?

Darrell Phillips, Paremata

Well and truly over Metiria Turei and her Winz experiences. I think we have all got the message if we were going to. Do the Greens have any other messages/platforms?

Carole Naylor, Papakowhai

Why do motorway temporary speed restrictions seemingly only apply to me? William Nobelen, Grenada Village