Opinion

Kata - April 19, 2012

Thursday 19 April 2012 | Published in Kata

'Go Local' campaign needs support

Wednesday 18 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to the letter by ‘Frustrated local business’ in last Wednesday’s edition of Cook Islands News regarding the widening trade gap in the Cook Islands. There is no denying that the imbalance between our imports and exports has become much greater and this should be a concern to all. It’s […]

Kata - April 18, 2012

Wednesday 18 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Rude awakening in Rarotonga

Wednesday 18 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I recently returned from Pukapuka where I have been living for the last four months. In Pukapuka, I never had anything stolen. My toothbrush once went “yaelele” or for a walk, but it came back. Occasionally something would be borrowed but almost always returned. I never had any problems from men and was […]

Cut tax to $35

Wednesday 18 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Firstly I would like to acknowledge the Cook Islands News for highlighting some of the problems embracing our country at the moment. So keep up with the good job. Secondly I refer to the departure tax problem. I read in the newspaper the other day the Demo Party, if they become the government, […]

Kata - April 16, 2012

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata-April-Mon 16 “/>

Kata - April 17, 2012

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Why the shuffle?

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Questions and reasoning behind the recent Cabinet reshuffling between the Prime Minister, giving away the police portfolio to Teariki Heather for outer islands, should be explained to the people,” a smoke signaller writes. “Government should come out and give the reasons why this is taking place. I believe that most taxpayers would want to see […]

Faith in the system down the drain

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you for the chance to add my one cent to the proposal by government to increase departure tax to $70. Attention please, the government and your advisors – the age bracket needs reviewing. Who is in their right mind would charge a 13-year-old $70? Far out! Let us just hope the $70 […]

Bank loans biggest killer in our society

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are not that blind any more. I totally agreed with the comment made by the Minister of Finance that cheap loans are one answer to the depopulation problem to the Cook Islands. In fact several other factors that contributed to the big problem and they are as follows: Biggest killer in our […]

Scooter warning

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A nine-year-old Auckland boy has 34 stitches in his head after a nasty accident on a push scooter, a timely warning for young riders here in the Cooks that helmets should be worn while riding the scooters. Fairfax NZ News reported that when Brent Bradley fell off his scooter and hit his head on the […]

Go for gold Patty!

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is a message to Patty (Patricia Taea): Patty, you have taken our little nation to extreme levels of some of the world’s best games and still some are not pleased. You have driven miles to get where you are today and still some are not pleased. Girl, achieving greatly in your young […]

Thanks for your support

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the Democratic Party supporters that rallied to give comfort and warmth to Mrs Tuaine Wigmore during the death of her much beloved husband and their children and grandchildren. As a loyal and strong member of the Democratic Party, Robert will certainly be missed […]

New water tanks for northern islands

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Return to Pukapuka

Rainwater tastes the sweetest. When our family lived in Pukapuka from 1977 to 1981, my mother says, she “simply put buckets out and caught the rainwater off the hospital’s fibreglass roof.” Our palm thatch roof never caught rainwater and we made do, although I can’t imagine fibreglass water being the healthiest. The new tin roofing […]

Angered by lack of communication

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am responding to Saturday’s letter from ‘Proud Mangaian’. Don’t be abhorred! I will see Rod Dixon and give him all the assistance I can. (I just have not got around to it yet as I am busy trying to survive.) What angered me was the lack of communication between the universities and […]

Why are police withdrawing so many charges?

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Reading the court pages it appears the police are now withdrawing a large amount of matters. Is their evidence collection not up to standard, their decision-making skills lacking or has their supervision fallen away? Come on Maara, you are supposed to be a lawyer, well trained at the taxpayers’ expense, bring the success […]

Kata - April 14, 2012

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Taxing a shrinking population

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Most of us cannot believe time after time how the minister of finance and his advisers are planning our economic and tax policies,” a smoke signaller writes. “They, including government, seem to be fixated with imposing more taxes on a depleting population as a means of balancing the budget. Surely Mark Brown understands that you […]

Horror and dismay at dictionary criticism

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write to express my utmost horror, dismay and sadness at reading the letter written by Jan Kristensson in last Thursday’s edition over his views towards the recent efforts of Papa Rod Dixon and the Professors to get the Mangaian Dictionary Online for all to access. It really busted the bubble of excitement […]

A true Wale welcome

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Return to Pukapuka

For the last two months, all of Pukapuka attended nightly song and dance practices to prepare for the opening of the new cyclone shelter. Anyone not attending received a two-dollar fine. This helped explain the high-quality entertainment for the grand opening. Pukapukans have been waiting for the cyclone centre since 2005 when the European Union […]