Letters to the Editor
Shipping monopoly adds to woes
Tuesday 3 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, When your reporter called for comment on the shipping announcements, I had to hold my breath to stop myself saying too much over the phone on such a complex situation. After some thought, I can say that the Cook Islands just became less attractive as a place to do business for both investors […]
Do the right thing
Monday 2 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Just a few words of advice to those who are complaining for not receiving their NZ pension in the Cook Islands. When the old pension was first introduced you had to work in NZ until you turned 60. If you left NZ before the age of 60 years, unfortunately you had to return […]
If NZ don't want us, then who does?
Monday 2 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I would strongly suspect that if New Zealand were to relinquish her association with the Cook Islands there would be a number of other countries out there that would jump to the chance of taking us on board as one of their prime territories situated as we are in the South Pacific, NOT […]
Banks need to prove their case and not run to govt
Monday 2 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I read the article quoting Chief Justice Weston and agree with much of what he said especially that “generally speaking judges will have a concern with that as a criminalisation of civil obligations and probably not an appropriate response”. I also agree with his view the Bill as being at ‘stage one’ of […]
Law should not be elitist
Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I am reading the comments by Chief Justice Weston relating to having lawyers on the Parliamentary select committee to consider the Judicature Amendment Bill. Knowledge of the law should not be regarded as an elitist pastime fit only for lawyers and presumably above the comprehension of anyone else. Not so, we the Iti […]
Some welfare suggestions
Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The public notice shows that Internal Affairs is calling for public input into their review of the social welfare system and my hope is that the Government makes good on their promise to care for the vulnerable. So my suggestion would be to amend the relevant Act so as to make some financial […]
All talk
Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Yesterday I questioned who released the obviously incorrect statement that “average loan yields in the Cook Islands was 7.3%”. The editor has clarified that it was a Government release. Oops, sorry, wrong line, that was Fiji’s rate. That indicates the real interest Government has in dealing with loan rates, all talk and no […]
Dragged out court case 'stinks'
Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
I am writing because my nephew’s friends who wrote to you last week are right. He has had his case dragged out when it should not be like this especially when other people who have done worse things have never been to court. Te tata atu nei au no te mea kua tano te au […]
Banks should be more careful
Friday 30 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It pleases me to see that the Minister of Finance has brought in an expert to look into the trading banks in the Cook Island though it would have been of far more public relations impact if the banks had volunteered some relief to clients in these tough economic times. When most if […]
Is this bank loan propaganda?
Friday 30 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Is this bank loan propaganda? I used to consider that I was good at maths, but a statement in the article ‘Banking to be reviewed has me at a loss: “The average loan yield in the Cook Islands was 7.3 percent, the lowest in the Pacific”. Now in very rough terms there should […]
Look to NZ for comparisons
Friday 30 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In yesterday’s paper the headline reads ‘Banking to be reviewed’, then the article sets out governments plans for how this will happen and the very well respected person to carry out this review. As the owner of a small business, living and working in the outer island of Aitutaki, this is great news […]
Reef's new ship is bigger and faster
Friday 30 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, We wish to respond to the concerns expressed by the Opposition leader, Hon. Wilkie Rasmussen, as reported in the Cook islands News (Wednesday March 28), and to give some context which we believe should allay those concerns. Firstly, and irrespective of how many ships are engaged in the Cook Islands trades, or indeed […]
Pension portability was deceptively introduced
Thursday 29 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In 1996, I wrote a piece on this subject (pension portability) in the Pacific Island Monthly (magazine) soon after the New Zealand government introduced it in parliament. At the time, one could hear Pacific Island governments praising the special provision and did so because of the potential benefits that retirees will bring to […]
Skipjack numbers and MMR challenged
Thursday 29 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Our ability to assess pelagic fish stocks in recent years has certainly improved. In the Dr Lehodey report mentioned by MMR in your March 24 paper, this was aided by satellite technology. However, I would be hesitant to use this report, unless it has gone through a peer-reviewed process and published in a […]
Keep them honest
Wednesday 28 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The one indispensable ethic for all non-state regional media and their professional bodies is to ensure their journalism aspires to tell it like it is to the people so that the people are properly informed and can form well informed opinions about prevailing situations – including political situations – themselves. It is a […]
Jesus more known as a swear word
Wednesday 28 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I would like to say thank you for the times you have allowed me to put across the truth regarding the reality of Christ and Christianity in your paper over the years. As some may know, my time on the island is nearing an end and I am moving overseas with my family. […]
Cooks Islands tourism already well served
Wednesday 28 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Interesting to read the debate around proposals to launch a new compendium publication here in the Cooks. As someone publishing a tourism publication here, I should declare my self-interest. But also, because I work in the industry, I have a close understanding of it. The Cooks is already served by two publications that […]
Congratulations on the marine park process
Tuesday 27 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Government must be congratulated for its efforts in getting all stakeholders together to draft the proposed Marine Park framework and guiding principles. The key to the Marine Park and seabed mining is sustainable development, working with our traditional leaders and community so that we have a voice in this area of potential development. […]
$8000 adverts 'ludicrous and unaffordable'
Tuesday 27 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The recent attempts to coerce small and medium sized sightseeing operators into advertising at “over the top” rates in the hotel compendiums that the hotels will get for free is immoral and unfair. The Australian company (not registered here) promoting this scheme has managed to convince some operators that, unless they advertise, they […]
Batman defends its tourism publication
Tuesday 27 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Recently your newspaper published an article about my company’s (“John Batman Group”) compendium publications. I am concerned that this article may lead local businesses to get a false impression of JBG and of what is being offered to them. Unfortunately this article contained inaccuracies about JBG revenue and I would like to clarify […]
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