Editorials
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne: We belong to the land
Saturday 17 June 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Our connection to the land is all that keeps us from the ravages of a secular, commodified, and consumerist world beyond the safety of our reefs, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Waiting in a queue is a test of patience
Monday 12 June 2023 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
If a queue is when you wait in line behind another then the very word is a ‘Q’ with a whole bunch of letters behind it that are basically either irrelevant or silent, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne : We must hold on tight to them as part of our identity
Saturday 10 June 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
When we as Cook Islanders stand as uriurianga, or as our Aotearoa Maori pepeha, we have so many similar identifiers such as our Maunga, our ava, our Tapere, Ngati or Iwi, our marae, our Vaka and our matakeinanga or Kopu Tangata, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne : Occupation right issue
Saturday 3 June 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Outward migration and depopulation are not new for us as our people have been doing this since the 1940s though it has become ever more present in the Pa Enua, in Ngaputoru and Rarotonga since the arrival and departure of Covid-19, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: ‘Simply the Best’: Tina Turner changed rugby league forever
Monday 29 May 2023 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The death of Tina Turner had fans all over the world grieving including male Australian league players and fans who to this day hold her song ‘Simply the Best’ as their anthem to the beautiful game, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne: Where there is a demand there is a supply
Saturday 27 May 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Alcohol use and abuse in the cultural fabric of who we are as Cook Islanders is concerning, and its use as a medicine to numb the pain of many of our social ills, inner pain and heartache says more about ourselves then maybe we realise, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: Open and honest transparency in sport and government
Monday 22 May 2023 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Knowing corruption happens and saying nothing, means you accept it and allow them to be voted in again, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne : No place like home
Saturday 20 May 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Good advice and good counsel, along with lines of accountability, are critical if we are to have good management and good governance – be it our spiritual life, our government or our own lives and families, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: Cherish your mother, she created you
Monday 15 May 2023 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Motherhood is not easy, if it were, then fathers would do it, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: Public money must be treated with respect and accountability
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, famously said, “A nation's budget is a reflection of its priorities and values.” He emphasised that government spending reveals the true intentions and concerns of a nation’s government.
Appreciating our mothers
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Features, In Depth, Opinion
Do we know how powerful we are? We mothers? With one gentle touch, we can soothe an injury or with a harsh hand, we can injure a heart. With one word, we can crush a dream or inspire hope in our child, whether at three or fifty-three, writes Linda Kavelin-Popov.
Tata Crocombe: Enhancing visitor accommodation services with artificial intelligence
Thursday 11 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the tourism industry, and the Cook Islands’ visitor accommodation services can benefit from the cutting-edge AI technology of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, writes hotelier Tata Crocombe.
Ruta Mave : Allegiance to the Crown versus financial donations
Monday 8 May 2023 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Long live the King. By default, we have sworn allegiance to the Crown but what are we going to do when all our handshakes and financial donations are called into play?
What is the price of citizenship?
Saturday 6 May 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
As we mark the coronation of a new King and the solemn Anzac services held across the Pacific, in Rarotonga and in Aotearoa, it is important to revisit the poignant question posed by Sir Apirana Ngata in his 1943 treatise, ‘The Price of Citizenship’, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne :It’s time to learn to walk in two worlds
Saturday 29 April 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The arrival of the Vaka Paikea to Akatokomana, Mauke, is such a good example of where we can utilise the culture of today and culture of tomorrow and use both to advance ourselves into the challenges of the world, we now live in, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Tata Crocombe: We must secure our routes to key strategic airports
Thursday 27 April 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The Cook Islands will never reach its full economic potential without greatly improved air services that only a national airline can achieve. The Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns crashed the tourism industry, highlighting the vulnerability of the Cook Islands economy, which is 85 percent dependent on tourism.
Dr Michael Baer: The dogs of war
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Local, National, Opinion
With ANZAC day marked yesterday and poppies everywhere, has anyone noticed that some of the poppies are purple? Purple poppies celebrate the animals who have served in almost every human conflict in history, writes Dr Michael Baer, Te Are Manu Vet Clinic medical director.
Ruta Mave: Our greed for food is like an addiction’
Monday 24 April 2023 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The 21st century prides itself on its technological advancements but according to the Bible, Moses was the first person to receive information from the cloud onto his tablet on Mt Sinai. It was the ten commandments. This happened over a thousand years before Jesus was born, writes Ruta Mave.
Lynnsay Rongokea Francis: Amended Crimes Act ‘progressive piece of legislation’
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Opinion
I commend the Government and the Opposition MPs for the passing of the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Amendment Act 2023 (“the Act”).
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne: Preserving our culture
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
It’s not enough to talk about our culture, we have to live and breathe it, says Papa Mitaera Ngatae Teatuakaro Michael Tavioni BEM. For us the question is how do we breathe life into our culture, our arts and the artists who continue to put our country and culture on the world stage, and usually at their own or someone else’s expense, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.