Opinion

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 […]

Kata - March 31, 2012

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Kata

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 […]

Flight subsidy 'a liability, not asset'

Friday 30 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaler writes in response to the government’s $12.5 million subsidy of Air New Zealand’s direct flights to Rarotonga from Los Angeles and Sydney, which Cook Islands Tourism officials say should be viewed as a national strategic asset. “It strikes this reader as a poor business decision to fund flights that are not turning […]

Kata - March 30, 2012

Friday 30 March 2012 | Published in Kata

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 […]

4x4 flood from road fix

Thursday 29 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

The road leading to the top of hospital hill should be left as it is,” a smoke signaler writes in response to yesterday’s front page article ‘Tour operator wants hill road upgraded’. “If they were to make improvements [to the dirt road], you will find that every man and his 4×4 will try and drive […]

Kata - March 29, 2012

Thursday 29 March 2012 | Published in Kata

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 […]

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 […]

Weeds 'needed removing'

Wednesday 28 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to Friday’s Smoke Signal complaining about the clean up of the Takuvaine Stream, another smoke signaller writes: “Well, about time they cleaned it up before the growth of this noxious weed overtakes the river completely and does more damage. We had this problem further inland where our bridge was blocked by this Lucerne […]

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. […]