Letters to the Editor
Wilkie Rasmussen: Charter flights
Tuesday 28 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In my last letter to your newspaper I pointed out abuse by the Government and by the Minister Robert Tapaitau of public funds to pay for charter flights primarily for personal enjoyment and political benefit.
John Dunn: Now is our time in the sun
Tuesday 28 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, The tardiness of the New Zealand government in reinstating risk-free travel to the Cook Islands, a realm country, is inexplicable. While they dither, businesses, jobs and livelihoods are being lost.
Pastor T Ngarima George: 'I AM' signs preach holiness
Friday 24 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, Kia orana in the name of Jesus, and praise to Pastor George Pitt, and the New Hope Church.
Andy Kirkwood: Te Vai Ora Maori- says no permit is an offence
Wednesday 22 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, The matter before the court is the negotiation of land access (“Complaint filed against Govt”, July 20).
Eric Short: 'Water powers are legalised thievery'
Wednesday 22 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, Got my copy of To Tatou Vai Bill 2020. Went to Parliament to listen to the Honourable Mark Brown present his bill.
Wilkie Rasmussen: Charter flights to Tongareva
Saturday 18 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
During the last sitting of Parliament the Member of Parliament for Tongareva Robert Tapaitau, claimed that a chartered plane that took him to Tongareva was for him to go and check the airport for future upgrading. Those doubting this claim can check the Hansard reports.
Mark Brown: Criticism of water committee
Friday 10 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, You cannot please everybody. The members of the committee from the government side are all landowners on a number of the intake sites. We all have an intimate knowledge of the water system and our lands.
Don Carlaw: Tell the truth, NZ: It's about votes
Friday 10 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, The New Zealand Government is fast running out of excuses as to why they will not allow their people to come up to Rarotonga for a holiday.
Eric Short: Water rights impinge on land rights
Wednesday 8 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, I have just found out that the To Tatou Vai Bill is to be read in Parliament.
John M Scott: Just when will NZ step in?
Tuesday 7 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, I was most interested in the response received by the Te Vai Ora Maori petition organisers from the New Zealand High Commission, when seeking some assistance from that office to obtain an opinion from the Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives on a procedural question.
Gerald McCormack, Fishy business
Sunday 5 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, The large grouper on the front page (1st July) is not a brown-spotted grouper (Ephinephelus chlorostigma), which is a much smaller fish, up to 80cm.
Wilkie Rasmussen: Shipping to the Northern Group
Sunday 5 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, I have listened with dismay at the reckless speeches made by the MP for Tongareva Robert Tapaitau and would like to correct him.
Jacki Brown-Crummer: 'Contractors stole my Mama's dream'
Wednesday 1 July 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, A year ago our world was devastated when CM Contracting (run by Sam Capper and Teau McKenzie) failed to build my Mama’s house in Turangi, beyond foundations and wall frames.
Wilkie Rasmussen: MPs should allow free media
Tuesday 30 June 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, The reaction by MPs to the Cook Islands News article is petty and dismissive of an integral part of our community and democracy.
Justine Flanagan; Parliament is like our utu tree
Saturday 27 June 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear editor, Outside Takitumu school stands a grand utu tree. For generations this tree has acted as signpost, shelter, gathering point, and climbing frame.
Cecile Marten: Vaka is safe
Friday 26 June 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Kia orana, On behalf of the Cook Islands Voyaging Society I would like to express our disappointment at the Kata Cartoon on Saturday 20th June 2020, depicting the Prime Minister Henry Puna “abandoning ship”.
Ruth Tangiiau Mavé: Allowances debate hits sore spot
Friday 26 June 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Yes, the Spouse Allowance was discussed in Parliament, and understandably the Members of Parliament are upset with the reporting, because now the public know it exists and will continue to exist in the 2021 Budget, despite the financial destitution taxpayers are facing, and they’re not happy.
Daphne Marsters: Journalist banned
Thursday 25 June 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
Kia Orana and thank you Cook Islands News. A great boss once said to me, “you may not like the person, but always respect their title whilst they are in their working position. Because they are elected to be the best person for the job at the time.”
Terry Rangi: Parliamentary audit inquiry into conflict
Thursday 25 June 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
I refer to your article (“Killer in political conflict probe”, June 20) regarding a possible conflict of interest in my hiring inmate Ngaa Taria last year.
Bruno Salvatore Briante: Helmets for pedestrians too?
Thursday 25 June 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Letters to the Editor
When a law is finalised, don’t you think it should cover all aspects of why this is created and implemented?