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• Published date: 04 May 2021

I have just been informed by someone who evidently reads a different Bible to the one I use that your landing on and exploration of Mars is a violation of God’s laws. Man was made to live only on this Earth, and is not allowed to penetrate what we call the Heavens. I just thought I should inform you of this, as some people know everything about what God wants and expects of us.

By the way, when you see God out there on Mars can you say Hi from me?

Sylvia Bryan

Motutangi

Traitors

France had its Pierre Laval. Norway its Vidkun Quisling. New Zealand its media editors.

Bryan Johnson

Omokoroa

Silver lining

They say that every dark cloud has a silver lining.

The extraordinary repression of citizens, and the destruction of economies, in the name of Covid-19 emergency procedures has caused the UK government to reduce their promised 2021 financial contribution to the UN Population Fund from £154 million ($296) to £23m. Now that’s good news, although zero pounds would be even better.

Leo Leitch

Benneydale

The best of all worlds?

First, heartfelt congratulations on your fine editorial about Anzac Day (How to honour our war heroes every day, April 27), drawing attention to New Zealand’s appalling abandonment of the principles and ideals for which we’ve fought in overseas wars from World War I onwards.

People have started to ask whether it was all in vain that men and women died, or at least suffered and sacrificed, but my impression is that, like silly old Doctor Pangloss in Voltaire’s Candide, our rulers are declaring that we live in the best of all possible worlds.

However, I’m now chiefly remarking on your April 1 front-page news item (a carefully worded one) on the disturbing activities of young pushbikers and motorcyclists in Kaikohe (Dangerous hazard? Or just having some harmless fun?).

Complainants, when they asked the Far North District Council to enforce any bylaw that could halt these activities, were told that no such bylaw exists. This answer is unconvincing, so have you checked on its veracity? Most of us have had that sort of fob-off when dealing with either local or central government, especially if any sacred cows of the PC world come into a complaint. Even pushbikers of any description now seem to be in that category.

The item’s illustrations were inadequate. One of the two photos was so tiny that readers must surely have been unable to descry any details of the people pictured. The other was poorly focused; and as well, the two young cyclists seemed to be wearing Covid masks. The tiny photo...