Extremism shocks but can’t win

Our land, our earth, our national spirit has been shaken by the most heinous and vile of criminal acts allegedely perpetrated by a visitor to our shores. He has left the greatest of scars in the soils we hold dear. His acts will never be forgotten, but his extremism has not won.

New Zealand is recognised for its rich cultural diversity, progressive social policies, inclusiveness and tolerance, and as a place of safe harbour for refugees. This perverted act will not sully this. It will not turn us in on ourselves. It will make us stronger, more mindful and sensitive to the needs of others, and hopefully, make us all rethink ways in which we can better build strong relationships, communities, and neighbourhoods in this social media-obsessed age.

Martin Luther King jnr once stated: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Indeed, love is needed now more than ever before.

Sam Clements, Hauraki.

Tragedy preventable

Rebecca Kitteridge appears to have failed to keep New Zealand safe. This is her job. Fifty folk are dead, a similar number of innocent folk in hospital. Christchurch, a broken city on the mend, hit hard once more and a country in shock. The SIS which she heads knew nothing and has failed to offer any contrition or remorse. White supremacy with all its ugliness has been highly visible and audible in in New Zealand for years. It is not below the radar. The accused Tarrant had been resident here for two years and travelled in and out of the country.

Kitteridge must front the nation and explain this massive failure of duty.

At the Al-Masjid Al-Jamie mosque on Saturday, hundreds of Aucklanders of all creeds and social class gathered, bought flowers. Our anger was shared in tears, struggling with the enormity of this evil and how it may have been prevented.

Gerry Hill, Ponsonby.

Scarf solidarity

I was saddened to hear a relative of a victim of the dreadful happenings in Christchurch say she was afraid to go out now as her headscarf showed her to be a Muslim. Maybe all the women of New Zealand could wear a headscarf next Friday to show support and that we are all the same, no matter our religion.

Pamela Henderson, Bucklands Beach.

Standing as one

New Zealand mourns with — not just for — those who lost loved ones in the senseless, cowardly act of violence. “With” because NZ has demonstrated we are ONE, regardless of race, creed or colour. To the Muslim community in Christchurch, while their grief is immeasurable, the spontaneous outpouring of grief (coupled with offers of help), must be of consolation. Despite the natural reaction of Muslims to no longer feel safe, the despicable action appears — whilst certainly from a terrorist — to be from one demented person; not part of a right-wing terrorist organisation. The message is, all of NZ stands together. We are one; and you are part of the “one”.

Des Trigg, Rothesay Bay.

Open hearts, minds

On Thursday night I enjoyed a wonderful concert by The Silk Rd ensemble.

The group were introduced as immigrants and refugees from many different places and we were told the ensemble flourished through generosity and curiosity; generosity in opening and sharing their hospitality and time to strangers from other places and curiosity to learn about different cultures and music and diverse instruments. From this, new sounds and music are created, bringing richness and colour to our world.

Next day, a terrible tragedy occurred which reminded all of us that the threat is not from Muslim terrorists but rather a problem of blind hate, ignorance, fragile egos and insecurity.

Let’s learn from this and open our hearts, minds and spaces to grow as a thriving world community.

Ingrid Memelink, Dunedin.

Peace and hate

The same week I witnessed a peace run from Cape Reinga to Bluff, on a brief stop in Taupo, an act of revenge was in its last days of planning in Christchurch.

After witnessing how this peace run visited two Taupo schools on Tuesday, I could see smile after smile from the hundreds of pupils, each touching a peace torch for a few seconds.

Two days later, we all heard of a hatefuelled massacre in the same country. If nothing else, a lot of good may come out of this too. Where the existing and previous governments have been slow to rid our country of most rifles and guns, now finally our Prime Minister sees the urgency and we all have to applaud her for her apparently genuine dedication to go as hard as she can on this topic of killing machines.

If Jacinda will only be remembered for her super-hard stance on guns, she has done us proud! Rene´ Blezer, Taupo.

Cowardly, not powerful

The perpetrator of this crime against humanity likely believes he is mighty and powerful, but it is impossible to imagine a more cowardly act. It is sad and regrettable beyond words that such a misguided delusion has resulted in an extreme and horrendous loss of good life. We all weep as one. Arohanui.

Ed Porter, Herne Bay.

Follow Howard’s lead

John Howard in Australia banned selfloading, high-powered guns, this had the effect of stopping any reruns of the Port Arthur massacre. We need to follow the Australian lead. Stuart Nash appears to be part of the problem, hopefully Jacinda ignores him. Neville Cameron, Coromandel.

Guns clampdown

With terrorism, mental-health issues, extremism, gun incidents reported daily, it is beyond belief anyone can own a gun at home, let alone semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns.

To those who want to walk the streets without fear of gun violence or arming the police, not only do high-powered guns need to be banned, but all other guns registered to a person and held in secure vaults, with severe penalties if misused and banned from owning a gun again.

The cost of administration for the above needs to be covered by appropriate taxes at the time of gun purchase and annual licences.

Stephen Moore, St Heliers.

Change late coming

“Now is the time to change the gun laws,” said our Prime Minister.

No, the time was long ago. Then this terrible event may not have happened.

K Wilson, Mt Albert.

Self-righteous rage

It is clear that New Zealand shares in a worldwide problem of angry, selfrighteous people violently displacing their rage on to any group or individual they choose to demonise.

Obviously, we need more effective gun control. We must also urgently address the social conditions that foster “toxic masculinity”. Andrea Dawe, Sandringham.

Senator in minority

As an Australian touring your welcoming and beautiful country, I want to assure all New Zealanders and those of the Muslim community so deeply impacted by the events in Christchurch, that the views of one of our Senators do not represent those of the vast majority of Australians (“Aussie politician lashes out at Muslims after Christchurch shootings: ‘They are the perpetrators’”, Herald, March 15). Senator Anning only gained a small handful of votes at the last Senate election and only owes his seat in the Upper House to the nature of our electoral system.

Allan Gibson OAM, Cherrybrook NSW.

Bridging gap

Several correspondents have supported a rail-only tunnel for a new harbour crossing, but, soon, the current Harbour Bridge will reach capacity and end of life.

The spectacular cable-stayed Anzac Centenary design proposed in 2009 — that disappeared without a trace — would have catered for separate two-level road traffic, rail, pedestrian, cycles etc, with infrastructure beneath, and could have been up and running by now at a then estimated lesser cost than a tunnel.

Nick Nicholas, Greenlane.

Leadership lacking

We have been warned: 12 years to plan a reduction in carbon emissions to net zero.

Student exasperation at adult indifference to our predicament — crystallised by Greta Thunberg, Nobel Peace Prize nominee — culminated in a worldwide “strike” by millions. Who could have foreseen such a huge event would be eclipsed by a lone gunman. Truly, “the Devil works in mysterious ways”.

Where is the leadership? Politics in Western democracies has become so tribal and venal it is a threat to our civilisation. Some climate scientists are saying we need to go onto a war footing. In NZ that means a coalition between National and Labour.

Dennis N Horne, Howick.