Letters to the Editor
LETTER: Te Mato Vai - Dealing with ‘shoddy’ pipework
Friday 20 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
"So tragic and so avoidable ... a water system, especially in a climate where winter frost protection isn’t a problem, is a simple thing. With materials meeting the standards of Canada, the USA, etc., a domestic water distribution system should require little to no significant maintenance for 50 years or more."
Letter: Independence and integrity of Government institutions
Tuesday 17 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
"The rental of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance’s private property to the Chamber of Commerce in Tutakimoa borders on a potential and/or direct conflict of interest clouded under the guise of Covid-19 assistance to the community."
Letter: ‘Set the record straight’
Monday 16 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
The transparent and accountable process which the late prime minister and minister of Police Jim Marurai insisted be used to select a new Police Commissioner should set an example for the government, writes Opposition MP William Heather.
Letter: Book your NZ quarantine now
Saturday 14 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
"Although we have no virus in Rarotonga, this easy access to New Zealand has been cut off for the last seven months unless we submit to the same quarantine that applies to people coming from countries such as India and Russia where the virus is rampant. "
Letter: Commitment to the cause of men's health
Friday 13 November 2020 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
I would like to congratulate George George for taking on the challenge in promoting men’s health issues and speaking publicly about something that is very real and all men should take notice. I understand he and others tried a couple of years ago to get this off the ground, but it’s been like, ‘oh I’m […]
Letters: Challenges of a travel bubble
Wednesday 11 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Readers weigh in on the potential for a travel bubble between Cook Islands and New Zealand, as well as the recent US election.
Letter: ‘All I want for Christmas’
Tuesday 10 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
"My beef is that the Cook Islands are Covid free, no reported cases, ever, period, but New Zealand will not label us as a “low risk” country."
Letter: Play your part in Covid battle
Monday 9 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
The majority of people who are returning back to the Cooks are returning residents and they are coming via Auckland airport; we currently have no cases in Auckland. Rather than bagging people or arguing on Facebook because that’s clearly not going to solve this decision and trying to execute the PM and his Cabinet, why […]
Letter: Water project points to need for enforcement of environment laws
Saturday 7 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
"When executive government flaunts existing regulations; NES and the Ombudsman are unable to execute their duties; and public petitions are routinely derailed, we don’t need new laws. We need law enforcement."
Letter: Identifying the impacts of seabed mining
Friday 6 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Thanks to Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) for the background information and for outlining how a moratorium would allow time for us to achieve many other goals like establishing Marae Moana zones and aligning with the UN’s strategy. Serious question though, other than supporting other NGO’s who call for the same thing, what actual steps would […]
Letter: Billions of tons of ‘God’s blessings’
Thursday 5 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
There is nothing short-term about the wealth we have sitting at the bottom of our ocean – 5kms deep. Billions of tons of God’s blessings sitting there, more than enough to provide for many generations of our people. Look at places like Norway, great example of how they have harnessed their natural resources, harvested responsibly […]
Letter: US Election results affect the whole world
Wednesday 4 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion
I’m a Cook Islander and also a naturalized US Citizen and I voted in the US election. I can’t wait until this is over. America is so divided right now. It definitely affects us in Hawaii because we are one of the 50 States in the Union. Hawaii has been a Blue State (Democrat) for […]
Letter: Appointing a new police chief
Tuesday 3 November 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In view of the government ministers’ portfolios announced by Prime Minister Mark Brown, I would have thought he would hand over the Police portfolio to Minister Mac Mokoroa now rather than later. In New Zealand the Minister of Police is not the Prime Minister. The thing is there are rumours that a current […]
William Foster: Making the national games ‘better’
Tuesday 27 October 2020 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor
Here are a few serious suggestions for Athletics, CISNOC and CIIC to make Athletics in the 2022 Cook Islands Games, truly successful. Please take these considerations into your future planning and implementation stages.
William Foster: Disqualification due to false start
Monday 19 October 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
With the closure of the Games it is now up to each sports code to look at the positives and negatives of their code.
Travis Moore: Getting the wrong impression
Saturday 17 October 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
The Good Reverend, Papa Orometua Ngaro, has based this week’s Church Talk on the signs and posters around Rarotonga on the theme, “I AM”.
Paul Raui Allsworth: Good governance about engaging with community
Wednesday 14 October 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
In a recent article, by the House of Ariki, in particular Travel Tou, accused us, the Koutu Nui, of playing politics. This statement is far from the truth.
John M Scott: 'Relic of a bygone age'
Monday 12 October 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, I came across a statement that the Privy Council made in a completely unrelated judgment and from which the LGBTQ community I believe might take heart.
John M Scott: Let's be clear about something
Saturday 10 October 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Either the Speaker, ex PM and PM Mark Brown are extraordinarily dense and genuinely do not understand the Standing Orders (in which case the former should not even be there) or they do.
Tama Tuavera: Water petition and Standing Orders
Saturday 10 October 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
For the prime minister to publicly attack two well-meaning non-political citizens who have been exercising their constitutional rights along with over 1000 others, is not on and is very spiteful.