Tongan fans left out in the cold after semifinal

After the semifinal last Saturday the sea of red waited. No one moved, no one left. We waited, we sang, we prayed, we waved our flags and we stayed.

We watched our battle- weary boys fall to the ground clasping their faces in their hands. And we sang louder, prayed harder, waved our flags higher and we stayed.

I felt a surge of hope, faith and love for these young men. They

Cop out

First the Dudley case and now the Christchurch decision not to prosecute. An event occurs, an investigation finds evidence of gross negligence but the police, albeit acting on someone’s advice, fail to prosecute because, apparently, it might be too difficult to obtain a conviction. Surely the law is for the people and it’s up to the people to decide. Isn’t that what juries are for? Gerald Payman, Mt Albert.

Fuel tax

I see Auckland’s proposed tax referred to as both “petrol” and “fuel” tax. Which is it? A petrol tax will apply very much to the vehicles which congest our roads and whose users can choose another form of transport.

A fuel tax will not be good as it will also apply to passenger transport vehicles and trucks which mainly use diesel. This will increase the costs of public transport and freight, neither of which will be desirable.

John McKillop, Howick.

Stokes’ selection

David Leggat is to be congratulated on his Stokes comment. We indeed have a choice between “morality and opportunity”. Morality has been absent from commerce and business for generations. It has certainly come raised us beyond the mundane and poverty and dared us to believe that Tongans could conquer the conqueror and change the game.

When these young men chose heritage over citizenship they gave voice and respect to our collective migrant story.

Mr Matt Cecchin, in your final inconsistent decision you denied us closure.

Auckland Council, you left under severe pressure in New Zealand politics over the past nine years and it has now been given out in cricket.

What message is being sent to today’s 1st XI players? Will it now be acceptable for a disgraced yet talented player dropped from one school, to be offered the opportunity to play for another?

Canterbury cricket may get bums on seats, but the cost to society’s values is far greater than admission to Hagley Oval.

Ian Findlay, Napier.

Valuing the Cup

It is obvious Professor Tim Hazledine did not read the report on the economic impacts of the America’s Cup before he made his claims of miscalculation, overstatement of jobs created and “crass use of multiplier analysis”. Had he read the report he would be clear that multiplier analysis was not used in preparing the Economic Impact Assessment ( EIA).

He would also be clear that at no point are estimates of economic impacts confused with benefits and at no point does the report claim, “thousands of new jobs are created”.

What is clear from the modelling and analysis is that hosting the America’s Cup regattas plus the leadup will generate significant economic impacts that flow broadly through the economy. In addition, the long- term impacts of carefully considered 30,000 people with high energy needing to be together and celebrate. We descended on to the streets because we had nowhere to go.

New Zealand media, you might find the spirit of humanity is more worthy of a story than the small number of incidents you report.

Rugby league, our boys will change the game — watch this space. infrastructure investment will help boost and sustain New Zealand’s marine refit sector regardless of whether the Cup is retained or not. Greg Akehurst, Market Economics.

Next strike

The last time Trump’s abhorrent tweets caused a major ratings slump his patriotic profile was dragged up by dropping Tomahawk missiles on a pre- warned airbase in Syria. By retweeting three racist propaganda videos Trump must have set a new ratings low. With the ready excuse of an upgraded North Korea, what buttons will Trump push next?

Lori Dale, Opotiki.

Road subsidy

Those complaining about Auckland’s proposed regional fuel tax need to be reminded that over 50 per cent of the cost of our local roading budgets come from general property rates. The regional fuel tax is not bleeding captive road users to subsidise others. It’s actually reducing the amount extracted out of ratepayers to subsidise one of our largest subsidised groups in the country.

It will be a remarkable day when we hear road user groups lobbying for true user pays on our roads, including the cost of the public health and environmental damage that they do. Russell Baillie, Mt Eden.