Dear Editor, A question to the Editor about the column published by Thomas Wynne. No discredit to his column at all. It can be a great read and it is an Opinion column and he does that and you have published it for many years.

The question is respectfully for you, Mr Editor. Is he the only contributing author to the Opinion column that you regularly publish who isn’t living in this country? I’m just curious about the decision to publish the opinion from someone that hasn’t lived here for many years now. Does he have the space because there are more Cook Islanders living in NZ than here so, perhaps you feel that representation is important in the Opinion column you publish in your Cook Islands newspaper? Or, is there another reason?

I feel that perhaps the space could be given to an overseas-based Cook Islands expert to share their opinion on an industry they work in or, be given to a Cook Islander who is living here in the Cook Islands that can be responsible to the community in real-time for the opinions/writing they put into our local community. Would it not be diplomatic to open up the spot to a young Cook Islander living overseas/in New Zealand to hear their perspective and opinion on things now?

No discredit to Thomas for all his work done! This is more a conversation about how you use that Opinion spot – can it be used instead to illuminate the Arts, Tech, Science or Philosophy? If writing an opinion column in your paper is a paid spot then I’m sure many other voices would love the opportunity. If being an opinion columnist is an unpaid role at the Cook Islands News then I say let other people have a go! And commit to a regular spot for people to write about their industry, their opinion too.

Thank you all for your great work for our country’s daily newspaper. I’m loving my online subscription!

(Name and address supplied)

Editor’s note – Thank you for your letter about our Opinion column and your kind words about Thomas Tarurongo Wynne’s contributions. Thomas is one of several regular contributors – the others are Ruta Mave (weekly), Te Ipukarea Society (weekly), Church Talk (weekly), Te Are Manu Vet Clinic (fortnightly pet column), Virtues Column (fortnightly), etc. We occasionally allow contributions from experts on issues that are topical or of national interest. We strive to publish a range of perspectives in our Opinion section.

While Thomas provides a valuable viewpoint, we recognise the benefit of including more voices from Cook Islanders living both within the islands and abroad. Thomas has spent many years in Rarotonga and Aitutaki where he served as a counsellor for respective colleges from 2010 to 2015 and later as the communication advisor to the Prime Minister (2016-2019) before returning to New Zealand. In New Zealand, he worked for the NZ Parliament in the Labour Leaders Office as Pasifika Communications Advisor and currently works for the Department of Internal Affairs NZ as the Moana (Pasifika) Engagement Lead - Survivor Experiences Service. His experience and contributions in education, counselling, social justice, governance, and communication in both the Cook Islands and Aotearoa NZ is reflected in the valuable insights he provides on topical issues affecting Cook Islanders here and abroad through his weekly columns.

We also agree overseas-based Cook Islanders with industry expertise can offer valuable insights and we’re actively seeking such contributors and encourage them to submit their work for consideration.

Our opinion columnists are currently unpaid.

Alternatively, we have the Letters to the Editor column which falls under the Opinion section where we encourage you and other interested Cook Islanders, including those who wish to remain anonymous, to contribute your viewpoints.

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