Letters to the Editor
Letter: Fund the Police, Not MP Travel
Friday 28 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
For years, the Cook Islands Police Service has been crying out for more frontline officers. They need 46 staff across all divisions. Recruitment is frozen. The Maritime Division is stretched to breaking point. There’s barely anyone left for community policing—just one officer, trying to cover an entire nation.
Letter: Response to Warren Wichman’s ‘Celebrating War”
Friday 28 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Warren Wichman, The 105mm Howitzer provided by the NZ Defence Force, was for the contribution Cook Island men and women have made to the NZ Defence Force from WW1 onwards.
Letter: Out of touch with reality
Friday 28 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Kia Orana Editor, Poor Mark Brown is simply out of touch with reality.
Letter: Plastic ‘carvings’
Friday 28 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Mr Editor Many of the hundreds of tourists swarming off the big cruise liners like an invasion end up at Punanga Nui Market and stand in front of the big display labeled, "Cook Islands Necklaces" at $9 each - the ones that left China at 50 cents or so, plastic "carvings".
Letter: No such thing as luck
Thursday 27 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Mr, Mrs, Miss, Master Cartoonist, Ghost writer-artist (of CIs.news 25/02/25 Kata’s page 4), there is absolutely no such thing as luck, chance nor coincidence but faith, obedience and belief in Jesus Christ, who says in John 14:10 – 14: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11, Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake.
Letter: Dear Tin Soldier – “Stand at Ease” “Stand Easy”
Thursday 27 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Yes, we did receive much advice from about covering the 105mm L5 Howitzer on the day the gun was put in place. This advice came from a number of well-meaning consultants – builders, painters and also old Australian Gunners.
Letter: Dubiousness puzzling behaviour
Thursday 27 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, We cannot allow Mr Brown's statement that the NZ media and experts think the Cook Island nation are "too dumb" to realise the implications of its own decisions, go without comment.
Letter: Voters are watching
Wednesday 26 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Mark Brown Accuses Experts Thinking "We Are Too Dumb"
Letter: No confidence motion clarification
Wednesday 26 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, The need for clarification and explanation of the current stalemate and confusion of the passage of the no confidence motion against the PM and cabinet can be resolved as follows:
Letter: Nomination for PM’s replacement
Tuesday 25 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Watching NZ PM Luxon on NZ TV this (yesterday) morning says the following, quote “We have no problem with the people of the Cook Islands.
Letter: Akatueraanga o te ManaTauranga
Friday 21 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Kia Orana I te aroa ngao o to tatou Atu ko Iesu Mesia. Teia te reo o te tata Salamo ko te Atua to tatou akapuanga e te maroiroi, e tauturu vaitata roa ia kia rokoia e te tumatetenga. (Salamo 46:1)
Letter: What can MPs’ travel budget buy?
Friday 21 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Time for change. How dare the Budget include an increase of over 400,000 dollars for travel, while our people are suffering. How dare this government take that amount of close to 1 million dollars in a single year for travel.
Letter: What are we celebrating?
Thursday 20 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Despite the Cook Islands having so much going for it - best climates, cheap cost of living, low crime, no homeless, no really poor, good connectivity, easy access to NZ for health/education, etc., and Rarotongans speak better English than most New Zealanders and better Maori than most NZ Maori, 60 years of self-government doesn’t appear to be something to celebrate.
Letter: ‘Where is our mana!’
Thursday 20 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, I would like to point a few things, especially towards the different groups who took the protest march in front of Parliament on Monday.
Letter: “I know. But, for what purpose?”
Wednesday 19 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
With all the turmoil going on at the moment, perhaps it's a good time to reflect on what’s important to us as Cook Islanders. Read and ponder.
Letter: 60 years of partnership in peril?
Tuesday 18 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Sixty years ago, with the endorsement of the people, Albert Henry signed an agreement with New Zealand that gave us the privilege of being NZ citizens and the responsibility to govern ourselves. We have never been left ‘high and dry’.
Letter: Constitutional amendment
Friday 14 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Forget about a constitutional amendment to recognise the Cook Islands as a Christian nation, I’m a dyed in the wool Catholic and Pope Francis said that Christian nationalism is opposed to Catholic teachings.
Letter: Real problems, real solutions
Friday 14 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, How considerate of (Prime Minister) Mark Brown to put his banana republic passport on ‘hold for now’! Reason being, he didn’t like what the New Zealand government would do to Cook Islanders.
Letter: Autocracy and cheque book politics
Thursday 13 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
I guess the most obvious concern is without political debate (which requires an active democracy to exist) the voice of the people can be dismissed or sidelined.
Letter: Ukrainian blood on Cook Islands hands?
Thursday 13 February 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, A dive into the US Department of the Treasury sanctions list (https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions) leads one to conclude that not only is the infamous Cook Islands flagged ship “Eagle S” dragging its anchor in the Baltic Sea to cut cables and trying to start a Russia/NATO war, but that Cook Islands flagged and sanctioned ships are everywhere helping to fund Russia, Iran and North Korea’s war with Ukraine.