I think they have options in New Zealand we don't have because of the realities of our geography. Looking back at the 1970s, when you never knew if your flight would be re-routed to Havana, I don't think it would work in North America to have large commercial jets flying around without any security screening process. Also, one extortion scheme involved the bad guys threatening to fly the craft into a nuclear reactor (perhaps at Oak Ridge, the details are hazy now) if they didn't get their money. I have no idea if they have nuclear reactors at all anywhere in New Zealand, but I do know that people have argued that they aren't well secured against large commercial aircraft, only against smaller aircraft.

You can argue that our security is imperfect and that a dedicated terrorist/suicide bomber will be able to sneak through -- but most criminals, extortionists, and escapees from mental institutions have been quite well deterred by airport security. You hardly ever get on a plane and wind up in Havana these days. You don't do nothing because you can't do everything.

I believe there can be a balance between security and reasonable risk. I don't believe liquids are a credible risk. I don't believe that checking IDs is anything but revenue protection. But certainly we need to have some screening for weapons.