We can’t let ourselves be divided

The central library closure

In all the horror of the terrorist attacks, one hopeful image is the mass of people who came out to support the victims. They were, for the most part, not Muslims. Some were Christians, but most had no particular religion. Men and women, young and old, ordinary New Zealanders of all races and colours came together. If any good is to come out of this terrible situation it will be through that kind of unity. We can’t let ourselves be divided.

Unfortunately, that is what seems to be happening.

There has been much talk about white supremists. Yes, these people exist, they are all over New Zealand, but they are a tiny, tiny minority. Let’s keep some perspective.

Just because someone is to the right of Nicky Hager doesn’t make them a fascist. Just because they want to keep the ‘‘Victoria’’ in Victoria University doesn’t make them a redneck. Just because they support the Canterbury Crusaders doesn’t make them an Islamophobe.

Whenever a Muslim commits an act of terrorism, we must avoid tarring all Muslims with the same brush. Let’s extend the same courtesy to white men. Otherwise this hysteria about ‘‘white supremists’’ could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Jonathan Depree, Palmerston North

The rest of the country is in mourning and Wellington is preparing a giant party on the waterfront, sponsored by a big-name alcohol brand.

And it’s to kick off exactly a week after the Christchurch murders and run through the weekend while others are planning memorials and events to help heal communities.

Don’t the organisers of Homegrown, and the performers, see that this is totally heartless?

Kirsten Windelov, Rongotai

It seems obvious to me why an Australian citizen would choose New Zealand to carry out this disgusting atrocity, and I don’t think it is because he hates New Zealanders generally.

It’s because in New Zealand, unlike in Australia where they were banned over a decade ago, he had free access to military-style semi-automatic weapons and accessories such as multi-round magazines that gave him the means to kill rapidly and indiscriminately.

He simply could not have carried out murder on this scale in Australia.

The gun lobbyists who fought against firearms legislation changes proposed in the Thorp report in 1997, and the politicians of all persuasions who were swayed by them, have innocent blood on their hands and should hang their heads in shame. Andrew Logan, Mt Victoria

Horrible. Incomprehensible. So was the killing of 300 Christians in Nigeria in February and March (Barnabas Fund report). It’s a mixed-up, violent world.

Warwick Smith, Paremata

Arms dealing is very profitable. The social cost from the result of improper weapons use far exceeds the ability of private enterprises who sell arms to ameliorate the effect of improper use yet they undoubtedly share socially and morally in the responsibility in that ill use. I therefore think arms sales should be nationalised and let the profits be used to educate and increase the funds in the general coffers. George Klingbeil, Brooklyn

Muslim victims’ families have been further traumatised by delays in the I am finding it very difficult to have any trust or faith in Wellington City Council. The indefinite closure of the central library is another kick in the guts for residents, especially ratepayers.

Other aspects of bungling and incompetence are not hard to find. The Residents’ Association of Island Bay has taken a case to court against the council over the mishandling of the community consultation on the Island Bay cycleway. The cost tostrengthen the Town Hall has blown out repeatedly, without any serious consideration of demolition and rebuilding. And many buildings that were built in the last 20 years with WCC consents and approval have had to be demolished since the Kaiko¯ ura earthquake.

How did WCC manage to build a new central library in the 1980s to its own requirements and sign it off as meeting the building code only to now find it is not structurally sound? Residents will be looking forward to this year’s local body elections. I suspect that the real problems reside with the managers and bureaucrats and they will not change even if the council membership does.

Peter D Graham, Island Bay

In the mid-1970s, whilst designing Fletcher’s proposal for the arcade off Lambton Quay, our engineers discovered the foundations below the James Cook Hotel were too shallow to prevent the hotel toppling past Featherston St in an EQ.

A media briefing gained silence to enable the work in the car parks to proceed without notification of public risk. Closing buildings is

return of loved ones. What reasonable purpose is served by an autopsy in this case? Identification should be with the families. It appears a review is needed of these rigid processes.

David Roache, Ngaio

GWRC rates rise

The proposed rate increase by Greater Wellington Regional Council of 6.5 per cent when inflation is only 1.5 per cent is truly outrageous (Bus woes contribute to rates increase, March 20).

The temerity of chairman Chris Laidlaw that he is trying to avoid too much pressure on ratepayers is unbelievable. By the council’s own admission it needs additional funds for the recent bus changes when the cost overruns were due to its own incompetence and mismanagement.

Greater Wellington needs to stop treating ratepayers as cash cows and usually not necessary to effect repairs. They can remain in occupation and the tradies are happy to take the minor risk for double-time.

The demolition, cartage to landfills, and replacement of buildings, has enormous costs, including environmental. Many ‘‘leakers’’ have had only a minor leak or two. We documented two reclad jobs which were completely unnecessary, and began work on three others similarly dry.

No comment need be made about overreacting to the infamous ‘‘P houses’’. These are well known to most of us in the building industry as rorts.

It is high time the whistle was blown on risks. Until we’re prepared to make seriously dramatic changes to cut CO2; the road toll, including from air pollution; and sugar abuse, I’ll offer the attitude to risk in my industry no respect.

Daryl Cockburn, architect planner Pacific Design Architects & Planners

Moral obligation indeed! That’s no excuse for the most highly paid council employee to front up to make excuses. Closing the city library indefinitely is a destructive act and it fits in well with all the other acts of vandalism perpetrated by this city’s council.

The so-called natural disasters they hope to protect us from are a risk worth taking to live in this city. An earthquake severe enough to destroy all the council-owned buildings standing closed, fenced-off and mouldering would wreck the rest of the city as well.

Come on Wellington City Council, stop being wimps.

Sharon Ellis, Te Aro

manage its finances in a more business-like manner. To minimise any increase in rates, I suggest Greater Wellington look at reducing costs, services and staff numbers to balance the budget.

Alex Gray, Brooklyn

Religion irrelevant

President Erdogan of Turkey is reported as saying the only reason New Zealand troops went to fight the Turks at Gallipoli was because ‘‘we’re Muslim and they’re Christian’’. What rubbish. In those days wherever England went we went and we would have gone to Gallipoli whatever the Turks’ religion.

Erdogan is attempting to overturn the modern, progressive secular nation-state created by Ataturk, Turkey’s great leader.

R.R. McLean, Taupo¯ t has not always been this way. Some people’s attitude towards people like me who hold the exclusion ‘‘combo’’ – black, from a refugee background and Muslim – is shocking.

As a cab driver (while also studying at university) I have often encountered casual racism. For example, one of my passengers, who was surprised by my fluency in English and masters candidacy, said: ‘‘It is good that you as a refugee are doing a masters and can speak English so well, but we Kiwis need taxi drivers more.’’

When I used to work in a supermarket, one time I accidentally scratched my finger while I was cutting cardboard; my supervisor said, jokingly, ‘‘Oh, I never knew your blood is red.’’

The casual racism, anti-Muslim prejudice, ignorant questions and verbal abuse that I so often experienced made me often pessimistic about my future in New Zealand.

I don’t think these attitudes have all vanished, but if the terrorist mass killings have made much greater numbers of New Zealanders recognise that I am you, and that you are me, then something good will have been achieved out of Friday’s terrible events.

Islam is not a faith of hatred. It believes there are only two kinds of people: brothers and sisters in faith, and brothers and sisters in humanity. People of either category suffer from the same weaknesses and disabilities that humans are inclined to. The killer, terrible though his actions were, and subject to justice as he must be, is still . . . a brother.

Nureddin Abdurahman arrived from Ethiopia as a refugee in 2008 and has lived in Wellington since. He recently completed a masters in international relations from Victoria University of Wellington.