Opinion

Kata - April 7, 2012

Saturday 7 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - April 5, 2012

Thursday 5 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Teach te reo

Thursday 5 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Teia au tei Australia nei, te kite nei au te taravake a to tatou metua ki runga i ta tatou tamariki, e tika te meitaki ua ara te apii i te reo papaa, eaa ra e ngaro to tatou reo tupuna, akamaroiroi eiaa e akama, apii ia ta tatou tamariki te reo tupuna […]

Examine all possibilities

Thursday 5 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reference to freight rates being tightly regulated by the Cook Islands Government. A long time architect friend of mine is fond of saying that a building code is simply the minimum standard beneath which a building will probably not be safe. Similarly, a regulated price in a single-supplier, nationally-critical service is probably […]

Digital dictionary a 'wasted effort'

Thursday 5 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Mangaia Language has been digital for at least five years! A comprehensive dictionary was compiled by Marsa Dodson with support from Otago University and in cooperation with the local people. Marsa resided on Mangaia with her husband for two years and thanks to her tireless effort the final version of the dictionary […]

Kata - April 4, 2012

Wednesday 4 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Freight rates 'remarkably stable'

Wednesday 4 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to my previous correspondence to Cook Islands News on the subject of Cook islands shipping services, which you kindly published in your March 30 edition. I have since read a lengthy letter from James Beer on the same topic, and published in your April 3 edition. With great respect to Mr […]

Personal ownership is a deadly spirit

Wednesday 4 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, May I submit a comment regarding MP Wilkie Rasmussen’s and Charles Little’s letters to the editor on the subject of Judicare Bill Laws of late. Their views are what they are, just views. It is impossible to believe that they and the government including the Law Society will solve the people’s problem for […]

Kata - April 3, 2012

Tuesday 3 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Shipping monopoly adds to woes

Tuesday 3 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When your reporter called for comment on the shipping announcements, I had to hold my breath to stop myself saying too much over the phone on such a complex situation. After some thought, I can say that the Cook Islands just became less attractive as a place to do business for both investors […]

Govt should be innovative, inspiring

Tuesday 3 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I hear of seabed mining, and other airy initiatives the government is processing supposedly to benefit our people. Mining and the image of pristine Pacific Islands doesn’t exactly present a harmonious picture. Rather than look too far into the future for this development, shouldn’t the government be looking at the immediate problems facing […]

Do the right thing

Monday 2 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just a few words of advice to those who are complaining for not receiving their NZ pension in the Cook Islands. When the old pension was first introduced you had to work in NZ until you turned 60. If you left NZ before the age of 60 years, unfortunately you had to return […]

Kata - April 2, 2012

Monday 2 April 2012 | Published in Kata

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 […]

Bring your own chair

Monday 2 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A reader had a good chuckle over a classic Hawaiian poster advertising a Polynesian show and meal that asks those attending to BYOC Bring Your Own Chair! The Friday night Bash, Papa Ole’s Kitchen and Hui Kupono at the Hauula Shopping Centre bills itself as featuring free entertainment including a live band, a Polynesian show […]

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 […]

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 […]