Letters to the Editor
Letter: The principle of democracy
Monday 16 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, The Prime Minister is quoted in the Cook Islands New on October 12 as saying he and the government have ”no issue“ with the proposed ring road diversion behind the old Vaimaanga Hotel site.
Letter: Australian Indigenous Voice referendum
Friday 13 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Kia Orana! My husband and I left Cook Islands just yesterday (Tuesday) after a 10-day vacation on Rarotonga. The weather was not kind during our stay but the friendliness of the local people more than made up for that, on this our fifth visit.
Letter: Marijuana doctor
Friday 13 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, I think you are biased. You print the same stuff from Steve Boggs regularly but not from other people.
Letter: Govt needs to reassess ‘no issues’ stance
Friday 13 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, In reference to Government’s “no issues” statement regarding the road closure (‘No issues’: Government on Sheraton road closure, Cook Islands News, October 12). There are a couple of important issues that I can think of that need to be addressed.
Letter: Vaimaanga ‘horseshoe’ road plan
Thursday 12 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, I have read with interest the recent articles and smoke signals in your paper relating to the proposed and scary horseshoe road plan for the old Sheraton site.
Letter: Boggs takes a slog
Wednesday 11 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Ruth Mave's article about me in your Monday paper was filled with ignorance regarding medicinal cannabis.
Letter: Leave us alone already
Thursday 5 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, A large majority of Cook Islanders favour legalising medicinal cannabis, as of 2022, 64 per cent of the formal votes cast in the last election support legislation.
Letter: New Vaimaanga development
Wednesday 4 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
I refer to the letter regarding public concerns over the ring road (more of a horseshoe road really) which is being promoted as part of the development of the old Sheraton site.
Letter: Noisy motorbikes a menace
Wednesday 4 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, It was with great delight that I read in Monday’s Cook Islands News (2/10/23), that there are at least two other persons on Rarotonga who share my frustration at the number of “noisy and illegal” motorbikes yahooing around various parts of Rarotonga.
Letter: Why fix something that isn’t broken?
Tuesday 3 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Please can somebody tell me, why we are fixing something at a huge expense, that isn’t broken?
Letter: ‘Sky high’ air ticket prices
Monday 2 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
The letter writer Kuki Airani, Starlink Users, thinks that Air New Zealand ticket prices from Auckland to Rarotonga are justified on the grounds that they need to make a profit.
Letter: Their vehicles are not only illegal, but just plain awful
Monday 2 October 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Mr Editor, A recent reader's comment about a motorcyclist driving constantly through the middle of Avarua town requires some support.
Letter: ‘Zero’ public consultation
Friday 29 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, In this paper on 20-5-23, the Ministry of Health Secretary Bob Williams said, “It is essential that public consultation is undertaken to allow for medicinal cannabis to be imported, prescribed and produced in the Cook Islands”.
What about the poor turtles?
Thursday 28 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
I hear Tourism Cook Island is embarking on another round of safety guidelines and regulation for turtle tour operators at Avaavaroa.
Letter: Pacific Islands Forum
Wednesday 27 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
If it’s costing only $NZ 150,000 for Pacific Island Forum leaders meeting in Rarotonga in November, then, that’s cheap. Any leaders meeting anywhere tends to hit the million mark these days because they are such bourgeois affairs. Rajend Naidu
Letter: Sheraton redevelopment
Wednesday 27 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
It should be of huge public concern that the “new” private development of the Vaimaanga hotel site will soon include the closure of the main coastal road, forcing a long traffic diversion around the back of the hotel site for all motorists, purely in order to enable future guests and residents of the new hotel, direct access to a non-existent beach, with no sand, and no swimming or snorkelling , and bounded by huge rock revetments, which have been in place for years.
Letter: The cost of air travel
Wednesday 27 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
The excuses that Air New Zealand dream up for their high ticket prices from Auckland to Rarotonga, are just that, weak excuses, the only reason that they give that is genuine for their high prices is that they do this for "commercial reasons" to try and offset the loss of $591 million from 2021. I can understand this but don't try and recoup this loss just from their flights to Rarotonga alone.
Letter: Easy steps for cannabis legalisation
Tuesday 26 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, The Cook Islands Government said the more they look into legalising medicinal cannabis the more problems they come across. This should not be the case, they are overthinking and complicating what is a simple task.
Letter: Road works
Friday 22 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Editor, Oh, how good, wonderful and pleasant to see another stretch of road taking good shape from Avana bridge through Muri community and Titikaveka’s but only a stone throw away – nicely widened, side water trenches upgraded and soon the finishing touch of hot mix tarsealing.
Letter: Government e-waste
Thursday 21 September 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Great to see that Government has finally agreed to work and partner up with CIGT (Cook Islands General Transport) in the collection of E waste – how long has it been since the last collection? Six years at least.