In a few words

The decision of Waitangi Day organisers to invite Don Brash to speak demonstrates a robustness and generosity of spirit that is absent in many other settings. Compare this to the decision last year of Massey University not to allow him to speak. This shows us how presumptuous and overzealous many self-appointed advocates can be. It is possible that all sorts of difficult issues could be productively discussed if mouthy advocates didn’t get in the way. Gavan O’Farrell, Lower Hutt

In Law professor uses false name (Feb 5), Stephen Penk’s statements are unconvincing. His plea that he did not want his views associated with the Auckland Law School is at variance with his oral submission to the select committee, in which he drew attention to his association with the Auckland Law School by introducing himself as ‘‘Stephen Penk, Associate Professor of Law and Associate Dean at the University of Auckland’’. And as for his statement that he ‘‘didn’t intend to mislead’’, a false name is, by definition, misleading.

Martin Hanson, Nelson

Bus services augmented (Feb 2) is welcome news for some passengers, but not for we Mairangi and Northland residents. We are still forced to alight from our No 22 service at its terminus at Wellington station. To go into the CBD, or to the Basin Reserve, Wellington Hospital, Newtown or the zoo, we must transfer to another service. Unfair and inconvenient.

J Chris Horne, Northland

Aaron Lloyd, the lawyer for Viagogo, is quoted as saying ‘‘no-one thinks a guarantee is an absolute promise’’ (Viagogo site home to fraud: watchdog, Feb 6). What else does he think it is? The dictionary states that a guarantee is ‘‘a formal assurance (typically in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled’’. Since all interaction with Viagogo is in writing, its ‘‘guarantee’’ meets the definition while in fact many users of its site find it worthless.

Peter Wyllie, Eastbourne