Dear Editor, Let’s all just celebrate that we can showcase talented Cook Islanders no matter where they reside (NZ CIRU to represent Cook Islands at Oceania 7s, November 12). Appreciate the families (and businesses) who’ve stepped up to fund their child’s airfare to NZ at such short notice.

Appreciate the players, who’ve stepped up and taken time out from their lives to represent our nation at such short notice and unpaid. Appreciate the managers, coaches, medic and physio who also have stepped up at short notice and unpaid. Appreciate the support from those who’ve helped us secure players at such short notice. Celebrate the fact that we are being represented. It’s a step forward for those that come after. This is a chance to establish and build better relationships between Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia so we can put up good quality teams for international tournaments.

Cook Islands Rugby New Zealand (CIRNZ) is doing our best with what we’ve got and getting. Cook Islands Rugby Union (CIRU) has given us the opportunity to take this on and we are proud to step up for the sake of the Cook Islands and keeping our nation relevant in these tournaments. Be proud of the people that have been selected! They win we all win!

Maia Samuela

(Facebook)

Te Aponga Uira

How much money does Government give the power company to operate or build capital? None (‘Fleecing the power users’, November 12). So how is the company supposed to build the tech to allow solar power to be incorporated into their supply? People do not understand what it takes to do this. Millions and millions of dollars to let this happen. So I suspect that $27 million will be paying for technology and plant to enable people here to utilise their own solar systems.

From what I have read online and in government media releases etc, TAU (Te Aponga Uira) does not take taxpayer money to help cover day-to-day operations, they do not take taxpayer money to build capital and maintain their power network, they do not take taxpayer money to develop and implement technology for renewable energy. In fact, they give back money in times of crisis – the discounts were exceptional.

People should educate themselves on how much it costs to provide safe and reliable energy in a remote Pacific Island nation before busting TAU for saving up money to build the technology to go green, and be in a position to bail out the community in a pandemic situation.

Mike Linda Crosby