Opinion

Kata June 29

Thursday 4 July 2019 | Published in Kata

Kata

Editorial: Nature scorns those who would tame it

Wednesday 3 July 2019 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Opinion

It was as if every element of nature joined forces.

Opinion

When we still imprison too many people

Tuesday 2 July 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It was refreshing to read the editorial on prisoners by Jonathan Milne and Norman George’s weekly column “The Sift”.

Letters to the Editor

Editorial: Govt must power secondhand electric car market

Tuesday 2 July 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Opinion

Want to lobby a minister? Just hang around outside Te Aponga. Because there is only one place to charge their brand new Hyundai Ioniq Elite cars, and it’s up by the power station.

Opinion

Kata July 2

Tuesday 2 July 2019 | Published in Kata

Kata

Norman George: Please pause, look at our young people

Monday 1 July 2019 | Published in Opinion

Our first reaction to crime is one of anger, resentment and hate. Our reaction is often measured according to the level of violence.

Opinion

Letters: A dog's life

Monday 1 July 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I loved your story about taking your dog to Raro and reference to all the wandering dogs.

Letters to the Editor

'It is robbing Peter to pay Puna'

Monday 1 July 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have been talking with my octogenarian uncle and his friends with regard to the wage increase the members of Parliament have taken upon themselves to award themselves.

Letters to the Editor

Editorial: How do we treat our most vulnerable?

Monday 1 July 2019 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Opinion

OPINION: It’s easy to embrace lazy catchphrases like “tough on crime”. It’s far harder to take the humane approach: tough on the causes of crime. Today, lawyer Norman George announces plans to set up a local branch of the Sir Peter Williams QC Penal Reform League, to help address the poverty and abandonment driving people into crime. Acknowledging prisoners are not innately bad, but often just made bad choices under the influence of hunger or addiction, the League would provide support behind bars for their rehabilitation. This sits well alongside the leadership group being convened by the Cook Islands News to address the health challenges around meth and other addictive drugs. The prison lacks funding to feed all 47 inmates. Some have fallen ill drinking the water. Others suffered intimidation. READ MORE:* Norman George: Please pause, look at our young people* Prison work gangs ‘pay for jail food’* Second inmate complains of heavying It’s easy to write off prisoners as mad or bad and lock them away without thought, but this only plunges them further into the cesspit; it will not rehabilitate them to rejoin society as decent citizens. As Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Pearl Buck once said, “the test of a civilisation is the way that it cares for its helpless members.” There are some good people working in police and corrective services; they need the support of an engaged community to help those who might fall into crime, and those who have already. Not an archaic approach of lock ‘em up and throw away the key.

Opinion

MPs get new debating chamber and pay rises – yet no tax cuts

Saturday 29 June 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor

It is absurd that the people we elected as our representatives in the House of Parliament have now, thanks to our selections and what they have presented to us as their leadership qualities, have voted themselves huge pay and allowances increases.

Letters to the Editor

Ownership is a term that is not our own

Saturday 29 June 2019 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Opinion

As Maori we are caretakers not owners.

Opinion

EDITORIAL: What really stinks is NIMBYism

Saturday 29 June 2019 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Opinion

The first we knew was when the shrub on the old landfill site was ripped out. Like an oversized plough, an excavator dug deep trenches the length of the Ara Metua property.

Opinion

EDITORIAL: Look at the bleeding evidence

Friday 28 June 2019 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Opinion

Here’s the maths. About 100 people are found guilty of drink-driving on Rarotonga every month, and forbidden to drive. That’s more than 1000 bans year – in a population of about 10,000 men, women and children.

Opinion

Impact on Mama and Papa vendors

Friday 28 June 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Reading the revelation of Punanga Nui market's proposed market hut and tent rent review at first left me bemused and gobsmacked at the sheer stupidity of those who would moot such an outrageously irrational and unsustainable increase.

Letters to the Editor

REFRESHING CHANGE

Friday 28 June 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor In decades of perusing the daily paper this reader cannot recall there ever being a daily editorial. That one has emerged is refreshing indeed, and no doubt most readers will be looking forward to a continuation. Travis Moore

Letters to the Editor

Kata June28

Friday 28 June 2019 | Published in Kata

Kata

Whistle blowers versus muck rakers

Thursday 27 June 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I must compliment you for the new policy of not allowing anonymous personal attack letters to be published. I have fought and crusaded against this for years.

Letters to the Editor