Opinion

Kata - March 22, 2012

Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Warriors hit back

Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to the comments made by John Baxter re the Warriors vs. Sharks game. Firstly, John Baxter should get all the facts before making nonsense comments. The Warriors decision not to travel to play the Sharks was tabled two months ago in the CIRL executive meeting and not a […]

Disgusted with Rarotonga teams

Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is with sympathy and rightful support of Aitutaki and our only representative rugby league team the Sharks that I, a long-term resident here, register my complete disgust with insensitive/uncaring and very bad sportsmanship of Rarotonga teams who renage/opt-out at short notice from competing at Aitutaki! Why? You have far more money-earning supporters […]

Law Society clarifies Judicature Bill

Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter to the editor by ‘Concerned Citizen’ appearing in Saturday’s edition of the Cook Islands News March 10 and headed ‘New law favours banks’, as well as information disseminated by the Cook Islands News regarding same. I write to you in my capacity as the President of the Cook […]

Conflict of interest by lawyers 'absurd'

Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your letter writer ‘Concerned Citizen’ makes absurd the issue of “conflict of interest”. He calls for lawyers on the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Judicature Amendment Bill to step down because in his presumptuous opinion, these lawyers who are also elected Parliamentarians are sponsoring the Bill. He compares it to Justice Wilson who […]

'No job' for Navy at PM's

Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

The chief executive of the Prime Minister’s Support Office has quashed rumours that Navy Epati is to become a policy advisor in his office on public service review. Edwin Pittman said it was a “ridiculous proposition and the former Public Service Commissioner is pursuing private interests and there has never been any offer of a […]

Kata - March 20, 2012

Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Lawyers have a conflict in Judicature Act

Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, I am commenting after reading Monday’s front page of lawyer Tim Arnold and former lawyer Trevor Clarke coming forward with a more moderate or ‘less aggressive’ approach to the principles of the proposed amendment to the Judicature Act. It is especially of interest considering Clarke is one of the most prominent businessmen in […]

Kata - March 21, 2012

Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Prolonged police process questioned

Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am concerned at the prolonged process by the authorities in bringing their case to the courts. In particular I refer to a charge against a friend who we know to be an upstanding and intelligent Cook Island citizen; contributing professionally to his country through his work and who has been charged with […]

Call for details of Endeavour deal

Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Without knowing the details of the scope of the current Endeavour offer (not having had the details disclosed), I have seen the 2007 colour brochure that the company handed out at the time. Going on that information, Endeavour wants exclusive rights to the seabed mining rights and any minerals found, with no qualifications. […]

The evil side of the Cook Islands

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, One of my sons just returned from a South Pacific cruise on a sailing vessel. After the sailing vessel visited the Cook Islands he recommended to his mother and I to go there. I never heard of the Cook Islands so I looked it up on the internet. At first it was refreshing […]

War games wrong, name an insult

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write to you in respect of the story entitled ‘Paintball Natives!’ in the weekend section of CINews dated March 3. Firstly, I am disappointed that the Religious Advisory Council has not commented on the introduction of war games by the Celebration on the Rock movement’s Pastor Jonathan Cargill. Secondly, who does Pastor […]

Gender equality remains a key issue

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you for inviting me to make some comments on the recent letters in your paper referring to women being discriminated upon in our workforce. Women have played a valuable role as independent advocates and activists throughout the growth and history of this country. In 1981, the Cook Islands National Council of Women […]

Take control of your own health

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am incredibly disappointed to learn that a person I know who went to the hospital in Rarotonga for a Pap Smear was told she would be too young by the gynaecologist. I want to know why in the world would a medical professional want to stop a young person who is taking […]

Not extended, yet

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller called at the BCI yesterday at 3.30pm to renew their motor vehicle annual licence as an advert in Cook Islands News has been saying that the bank will remain open until 5.30pm for this purpose until the end of the month. “Unfortunately nobody told the staff about it – the bank was […]

Kata - March 19, 2012

Monday 19 March 2012 | Published in Kata

What mechanisms protect local employers?

Monday 19 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My letters over the past few days have brought employment issues of both the employer and employee’s to the fore. Good employees are a key to a business’s success. When employers in the Cook Islands lose a staff member they have trained, they get peeved off when the company down the road offers […]

Don't let the bureaucrats get you

Monday 19 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to the article in last week’s news about the harbourmaster leaving because he is worried about receiving his NZ pension, I don’t blame him. In 2002 I was living in Christchurch and receiving the pension and went to WINZ and told them I was considering going to live in Rarotonga, they […]

The Lost Tribe strikes again

Monday 19 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last week’s reports and letters about the NZ pension emphasise the gross deficiencies in the NZ Superannuation Act as it relates to eligible NZ expats and Cook Islanders living here. Your recent coverage of the dilemma of Bill Framhein, a Cook Islander and Vietnam War veteran who is stuck in an untenable situation […]