Abhorrent act does not align with New Zealand values

I am sure I express the view of many when I say I am horrified about the mosque killings and devastated for all the people who have lost their lives and loved ones.

This is an act never seen before in New Zealand, and one which does not align with our country’s values of compassion, acceptance and religious freedom.

Our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was correct when she said that extremism has no place in our country and that New Zealand embraces people of all beliefs who choose to live here.

My heart hurts that such an abhorrent act was carried out in a place of worship, and I hope that as a country we come together and stand in solidarity against extremism and in support of all Muslims. Ray Calver, Grey Lynn

SIS must face questions

Innocent Muslim people attending services in Christchurch were attacked by crazed fanatics. The horrific attacks need to be thoroughly investigated. How did the automatic weapons get into New Zealand?

The SIS are been shown up. They are not doing the job they’ve been paid to do.

The SIS have very close links to other intelligence services. So how was it this hate group had the freedom to plan and direct the attacks on two mosques?

The SIS should be subjected to a commission of inquiry so the public can be sure the SIS are doing their job.

Johann Nordberg, Paeroa More than a fair share

In response to Diane Anderson’s assertion that all companies should pay tax when selling their business (Letters, March 10), surely she must be aware all businesses in this country pay tax every year on the profit they have made plus future profits based on that year’s earnings — not counting the GST they pay as well.

So all SMEs most certainly pay their “fair share already”. As far as taxpayerfunded services for assisting businesses, what a load of rubbish — there aren’t any.

The only government department we talk to is the IRD, and that’s once a year.

I don’t mind paying a tax on a property when it is sold — that’s fair enough. But a tax on a business which you have built up or worked in for many years and have just taken what you need out of it is just plain greedy from a socialist Government (which I misguidedly voted for). Michael Curran, Grey Lynn

How a business works

Diane Anderson’s letter is so typical of illinformed envy, wealth redistribution, ideology (“worked hard all their lives to make someone else rich”).

Diane, I live in the same suburb as you, in a very modest house. I employ 12 people, as well as six teams of contractors who have multiple team members.

I have never benefited from “taxpayerfunded services”. There are no taxpayerfunded services for businesses . . . I’m not sure you know how a business works.

I have worked 65-75 hours a week for three years, my family has sacrificed a lot, my marriage has been under huge pressure, I have missed many of my kids’ milestones. We have gone without pay so employees’ families are taken care of. We haven’t had a holiday in six years. We pay huge taxes. Owe no one money.

It’s the ones in the lower and middle income who don’t pay taxes. Those that own businesses pay a lot more than their fair share and prop up others. Jason Colhoun, Sunnynook

Rail will ease congestion

The findings of the latest NZTA study into an extra Waitemata¯ Harbour crossing that more road lanes won’t improve traffic congestion and that a rail-only tunnel would have the best outcome is a sigh of relief that planners are finally coming around to the obvious solution.

With the City Rail Link tunnel currently being constructed under the CBD, it would make far more sense to link into and expand this with a heavy rail tunnel under the harbour and convert the Northern Busway into a rail line.

Heavy rail can carry both freight and passenger trains, unlike light rail, and the appeal of being linked to the existing fast congestion-free rail network across Auckland would likely reduce pressure on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and city motorway network. Isaac Broome, Pukekohe