Letters: Reader argues New Zealand should become the 51st US state

Living in a country where the Second Amendment applies will also end the archaic licensing rules that apply to the purchase of firearms.

A major disagreement with our neighbour Australia will no longer concern us as we will have a huge new umbrella of protection.

It will mean welcoming in nuclear warships and submarines of every type, so just think of the economic benefits to our port cities.

Hearts will burst with pride when our athletes compete under our new flag, and we Americans will stand en masse as the engaging Star-Spangled Banner anthem rings out.

With the Beehive becoming redundant, it can be replaced with a ballroom and permanent mixed martial arts arena, perhaps leading to a visit from Air Force One. [Edited]

Simon Earle

Rotorua

Rise in homelessness

Why is it that the number of homeless in Rotorua keeps escalating?

So much social housing is being built around the city, but a few years ago we had 400 homeless. A couple of months ago we had 700, and now we have over 800!

Where are those needing homes all coming from?

We are never going to get on top of these numbers, even with so many places being built here, if the increase continues at this rate.

Rotorua is doing its best to help, but can only do so much to take the strain.

Viv Radley

Rotorua

An apple a day

I have to wonder if four Marmite sandwiches on white bread, a hokey-pokey biscuit and an apple with the codling grub carefully removed would constitute a nutritious lunch?

That was normal fare a few decades ago. Of course, weekends and evening meals often consisted of roast mutton, carefully basted in its own fat, alongside roast veges, all in the same pan.

Today, my arteries show evidence of this intolerable past, but I recently attended the 70th anniversary celebrations of my primary school.

I, along with all my siblings, attended those celebrations. Perhaps those nutritious lunches were adequate.

John Williams

Ngongotahā

How to improve MMP

There is an easy way to modify MMP to ensure that Parliament will not be overrun with party “hacks”.

First, only those who have stood in an electorate should be able to become MPs. No “list-only” MPs.

Second, the party list order should be determined solely by the number of votes the non-elected candidates received in their electorate.

The number of list seats for each party would still be determined from the party vote, as it is now.

Mike Wells

Kawerau

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