Have always been a bit of a fan of your paper, particularly Rogers Rabbits – I've always found it to present a light-hearted approach with a side of common sense that's probably lacking in the NZ media.

But I've got to say your latest column ridiculing protests against these free trade agreements and the TPP in particular disappointed me and stank of National arse kissing.

I am one of the people who protested and will protest again against this agreement. At 39 I've never felt strongly enough about anything to take to the streets and chant silly slogans before.

The TPP and its mate the TTIP are corporate power grabs disguised as trade agreements and in the research I've done I cannot see how giving up our sovereignty and conforming to foreign corporate methods for conducting business will be good for NZ. The mass media have been using the tactic of ridicule to marginalise those who speak out against the corporatisation of this beautiful planet we call home – and you have stooped to that same level. People are protesting out of genuine concern, not because its fun to rhyme things with TPPA.

A Steward, Tauranga.

Rogers responds: Alert readers will have noted the ridicule was directed at those habitual moaners using the protests to raise irrelevant issues.