More Top Stories
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Tapaitau and Charlie-Puna released to ‘family jobs’
21 September 2024
Police apprehend four juveniles in connection with motorcycle thefts
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Diaspora dismayed over lack of Te Maeva Nui livestream
8 August 2024
Everyone is a winner, says Culture
7 August 2024
Local women outshine global peers in business leadership
8 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Articles by Supplied
LETTER TO EDITOR: ‘We’ve to be cruel to be kind’
Monday 20 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Mahatma Gandhi acutely observed that “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. The Saturday feature article on the SPCA shelter at Vaima’anga testifies that there are among us many citizens who do us proud in that respect. But, is it necessary to balance that against present reality? The picture of SPCA president and shelter manager David Pokia tenderly holding newborn pups is heartwarming. The story tells us that Mr Pokia takes 32 dogs each day on a morning stroll. Thirty-two mature dogs needing loving homes. Why would we add two more pups to that number when the chances of ever catching up on the adoption of homeless dogs, we know from years of experience, are pretty much zilch? Shakespeare, as well known to us as Mahatma Gandhi, said words to the effect that, sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind. Allowing more homeless dogs to mature may seem kind, but is it kind to the dozens of mature dogs waiting for a family to adopt? (Name and address supplied)
Stage set for Pursuit in Paradise
Saturday 18 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Running, Sports
Numbers for next week’s BSP Aitutaki Marathon are small but international participants say the intimate event is exactly what has drawn them to run in paradise.
Putting passion over profession
Saturday 18 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features, Local, National
Luisa Peters may be only 165 centimetres tall but she stands head and shoulders above many when it comes to her professional technique and strength. That goes for both weightlifting and the Police Service where the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) Detective Constable has been a valued member of the team since 2019.
LETTER TO EDITOR: The number of cars on the island
Friday 17 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, In reply to the nameless letter “Redesigning our CBD” I would like to clarify a couple of things in this letter: Rarocars has only just taken over using this section. Very few if any trees have been cut down from this section since Herbie Pemberton had the lease in the 1990s. Almost without exception those people who complain about the number of cars on the island already have a car themselves ... I would also like to see fewer cars on the road but don’t those people who currently don’t have cars have the right to own a car? Regards, Don Carlaw Director Rarocars
Church Talk: Running away from God
Friday 17 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
In our reading of today, we are reminded of a man called Jonah. He was one of the minor prophets whom God had called. The word of the Lord, God came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” By Reverend Vaka Ngaro of Cook Islands Christian Church.
Glenn inspires future league stars
Thursday 16 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in League, Sports
Former Broncos and Cook Islands captain Alex Glenn is using his story of success to give back to the next generation, heading up the new Broncos Multicultural Youth Leadership Programme.
LETTER TO EDITOR: Sheraton ‘back road’ proposal
Thursday 16 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, So the pikika’a has started! The new MP for Titikaveka justifying the new back road behind the Sheraton hotel site, through Vaimaanga and linking with the main road further down on the other end of the village (CITV local news, 14th March 2023), because of future main road flooding due to sea level rise. But isn’t the real reason for putting in the new back road is because Chris Vaile wants access to the beach site in front of his new hotel development? The entire length of beach is covered with huge boulders as rock revetment (which were originally put in by Government exactly to stop sea level rise!). But close the road to the public anyway, and inconvenience them having to drive all that extra way around the back, and say it is for their own good. The new MP’s logic is similar to that which he used to rip out all those fantastic old Toa trees at Takitumu School, because they were a safety hazard, yeah right! (Name and address supplied)
The winners from Polyfest 2023: Cooks take the stage
Wednesday 15 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Culture, Local, National
Five secondary schools (division one and two) performed including defending champions Māngere College, but it was the students from Auckland Girls Grammar School who showcased the beautiful dance styles of the Cook Islands.
Water – the most essential nutrient
Wednesday 15 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Opinion, Pet Talk
We have had a bit of rain, at last, after a month or so of hot weather. During that hot weather we had a group of British volunteers working at Te Are Manu. They were great; enthusiastic, talented and very knowledgeable. But not very heat tolerant.
LETTER TO EDITOR: ‘PM should be held responsible’
Tuesday 14 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Wouldn’t you think that when 62 per cent of the voters said yes to the cannabis referendum during the 2022 general election on August 1 to allow for research and medicinal use that the Government would want to make life easier for patients arriving in our nation with a legal prescription for medicinal cannabis products?
Japan provides over $313k grant
Tuesday 14 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Local, National
A school and a volunteer fire service have received Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects.
Hendersons ‘never say never’
Monday 13 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Sports, Triathlon
For seasoned triathletes Kevin and Thomas Henderson the recent Ironman Taupo saw the pair finally both complete the famous race.
Cooks to host visiting Diplomatic Envoys
Monday 13 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Business, Local, National
Diplomatic Envoys from the Republic of France, the Republic of Korea and the State of Kuwait, will visit Rarotonga this week to present their letters of credence to King’s Representative, Sir Tom Marsters, during a ceremony facilitated by Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI).
Life is not a fairytale …
Monday 13 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Opinion
The problem with Disney fairytales is that after abandonment abuse bullying and slavery, the young helpless girl is saved by a young handsome man with a sword but no other real-life skills. He does not have a job or his own house, he is still living at home with his parents in the castle, writes Ruta Mave.
LETTER to Editor: Redesigning our CBD
Monday 13 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, The recent comments from our locals after the central business district (CBD) of Avarua was overrun with hundreds of cruise-ship passengers taking over the CBD made interesting reading. People noted the many visitors walking in the street as if streets were made for people and not cars.
Police arrest five, record new high for breach of alcohol limit
Monday 13 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Court, Crime, National
Police arrested five people over the weekend, including one male suspect, who is alleged to have threatened a shopkeeper with scissors on Friday evening.
LETTER TO EDITOR: Cannabis confusion ‘falls squarely on the shoulders of Customs’
Saturday 11 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, I write in regards to Thursday’s front page article about “Border confusion continues: Police, Customs at odds over cannabis importation”. The reason for all the confusion falls squarely on the shoulders of Customs because in our Narcotics Act it states on page 49 that, “This Act is administered by the Ministry of Health”. And there is a provision in the MOH Act, Part 5,23- # (7) that as long as all the criteria is met it is legal to import personally prescribed medicinal cannabis products.
Biden budget aims at China with billions for Pacific Is.
Saturday 11 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Regional
Alarmed by China’s success in wooing Pacific island nations, the Biden administration is proposing to spend billions to keep three of those countries in the U.S orbit.
Religion and science: World in fear, turmoil, confusion and uncertainty
Friday 10 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features, Opinion
We can only save our world full of fear, turmoil, confusion and uncertainty when the union between the Bible and Science is strongly intact, integral and intimate, writes Apostolic Church head Bishop Tutai Pere, BA, LTh, M.B.E.
LETTER TO EDITOR: Some questions for CIIC …
Friday 10 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, I have some questions for CIIC (Cook Islands Investment Corporation), regarding the new plan for the market, and thought a public forum like the paper would a good format to do this, so everyone concerned can get the answers they need. I understand all stallholders (arts, crafts, and advertising for tourism) are being moved to the new location, past the current huts into the park, and all food vendors are heading to the old playground.