Letters to the Editor
Letter:Israel-Hamas war
Tuesday 14 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
We condemn what the Hamas did to the Israeli civilians on the 7th of last month.
Letter: Fix the leaks
Monday 13 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, To Tatou Vai is calling for water conservation and top of the list is - No Car Washes.
Letter: Where are the women at the Pacific Islands Forum Leadership?
Wednesday 8 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, The leadership line up in the Cook Islands News Pacific Islands Forum Supplement on Saturday and again at the opening of the Forum yesterday was a sad gender affair. PM Fiame Naomi Mata’afa of Samoa was the only woman leader.
Letter: Who owns Rarotonga’s roads?
Monday 6 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, My opinion article in the Cook Islands News of 21.10.23 called for community consultation on horseshoe roads, and has so far generated a considerable number of comments.
Letter: A dog and pony show
Friday 3 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
The KR’s Prerogative of Mercy and Pardon for Papa Arapati, signed and sealed to be a done deal before the eyes of the southern hemisphere focus on the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, is certainly a historic event.
Letters: MPs travel: ‘Abusing the system’
Friday 3 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, In only three months, MPs have spent 98 per cent or $246,347.03 of the annual $250,000 budget for MPs travel. Election promises by all parties shows that they would cut back on overseas travel, especially after the downturn in the economy from Covid. No, it was the opposite.
Letter: Medicinal cannabis importation
Thursday 2 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, A letter written to the Cook Islands News on 30-10-23, erringly declared it was against the law to import any form of marijuana product into the nation, including non-psychoactive CBD products.
Letter: Water meters are essential for saving water and protecting our communities
Wednesday 1 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
All meter systems have a sole and singular reason and purpose whether in an air, sea, rail and road automobiles; electrical, electronic, solar, wind, hydro, oil, petrol, battery driven and so forth. Even our personal mobiles, computers, satellites and so forth all measure speed, safety levels, balance and all needed control for security and lifesaving precautionary measures. Without them, all equipment or machineries will head for disaster.
Letter: Giving credit where it’s due
Wednesday 1 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, As one of the original complainants about noisy bike mufflers, and dangerous/stunch riders, let me publicly commend the Akava for their very strong response to closing down the noisy/dangerous bike riding hoons who have been terrorising our roads for far too long.
Letter: ‘Times have changed, so should you’
Tuesday 31 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Tina (Browne) and Selena (Napa), if you think what was said or done 30 years ago is relevant now, back then the Demos were against the road proposal so you should be too.
Letter: MPs travel details
Monday 30 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, I read with interest the travel details of our Government MPs. Would it be possible to ask that the powers that be, not lump all the expenditure into one pot. If some of this travel is by invitation i.e. sponsorship for the fares and accommodation, it is not very transparent when its treated as a tiopu.
Letters: What’s up with the water?
Monday 30 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, To Tatou Vai Board Chair Brian Mason claims that using taxation revenues to pay for the operation of the water authority "...would mean the Pa Enua would subsidise those residing on Rarotonga" ('Water Meters are on their way to homes', Aug 25).
Letter: Confirming our cannabis status
Monday 30 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, With reference to recent opinions penned and stories published in Cook Islands News. I want to confirm that it is against the law to bring any form of cannabis product into the Cook Islands including CBD – cannabidiol – which is an ingredient in cannabis and has some therapeutic uses, without providing the ‘high’ that some cannabis users seek.
Letter: A matter of life and death …
Saturday 28 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
The writer’s home is located close enough by the Sheraton that most errands or travel requires driving past the hotel on the way, and again on the way back.
Letter: Old Sheraton – family or title land?
Saturday 28 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, I have been following the news regarding the Main Road diversion being insisted upon by Pa Ariki and her lawyers, as well as her latest developer. It has been heartwarming to see the public of Rarotonga rise up and oppose a road diversion that is not in the public interest.
Letter: Government not seeking a loan
Friday 27 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Your article of Monday 23rd October entitled – Cook Islands seeks US loan to develop seabed mineral sector – reports that the Cook Islands is seeking a loan from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the implication being that government is seeking a loan to develop the seabed mineral sector.
Letter: Cook Islands is ‘not independent’
Friday 27 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Prime Minister Mark Brown’s overseas travel busy visiting various countries and signing agreements is bridging international relations as head of the Pacific Islands Forum countries and the Cook Islands. At the same time the PM is trying to tap into foreign aid funds for development.
Letter: Sheraton redevelopment
Wednesday 25 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
All what has been written about the Sheraton by lots of the public should be an issue for the government.
Letter: Let’s hear it for the ‘Environmental Impact Fee’
Wednesday 25 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
The rightly spoken article in last week's paper regarding the chronic water shortage reminds me again what dullards must makeup Aitutaki's Island Council.
CBD products ‘are totally legal under our Drugs Act’
Tuesday 24 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
I’m writing in regards to your October 19, 2023 article about New Zealand allowing over the counter sales of CBD products.