Opinion

The big promise on political reform

Thursday 5 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The democratic government will establish a political reform commission within six months after taking office. 1) Consult widely with our people and with political experts to determine the best options for political reform in order to do the following: To establish a formula for the reduction of seats in constituencies where there is […]

Retrospective validating of legislation

Thursday 5 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Firstly let me correct the record. While flattering, please do not refer to me as a constitutional expert. I have never claimed to be one and would not want to. We are all fallible but experts are expected to be less fallible than other mortals and I would find that too onerous. I […]

Kata - August 5, 2010

Thursday 5 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Make way! Make way!

Tuesday 3 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“One does have to wonder why the Minister of Culture requires a police escort to take her to the opening of the Te Maeva Nui,” a smoke signaller writes. “This entourage included two uniformed police officers on motor bikes, lights flashing, a driver driving the Minister, while she sat in the back seat doing her […]

Sea life worry

Tuesday 3 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your article “sea life declining” was something that I really think needs to be given more attention. Our sea life is dying out and I think that people should know that. I think that more research should be done on this and that more articles should be written to bring this to people’s […]

LA prices high

Tuesday 3 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I saw your article regarding the flights from LA maybe cancelled due to the dropping of numbers, firstly let me say that would be such a shame as the Cook Islands are such a wonderful place to visit. My wife and I visited last year we were lucky as Air NZ was running […]

Issues with Pui's letter

Tuesday 3 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am disappointed that you bannered my response to Pui’s earlier letter as “Battle of the Henrys”. While I understand that every business competitively employs every marketing trick in the book (including the one yet to be written) to increase sales, with respect, in this instance your bottom line avidity is beneath good […]

Get off your high horse

Tuesday 3 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Well, well, well! I find it most interesting that the person who has been so quick to inundate the public with the morals and virtues we should be looking in a candidate has already stumbled at the first hurdle. I suggest Mr Beer hop down from his self-righteous horse and have a good […]

Kata - August 2, 2010

Monday 2 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Thefts must stop

Monday 2 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am saddened to read the C I News each week from NZ of the thefts on Rarotonga of tourists’ belongings, let alone locals and businesses. Tourists save very hard for their holidays, a fact that some low life seem to ignore. For some tourists it may be a once in a life […]

Country in constitutional strife

Monday 2 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Readers of my letter back in January in which I defended the Prime Minister and the QR from unwarranted and unsupported legal attack bordering on the seditious may also recall that I sounded a warning that the Jim Marurai administration would at some point need to call Parliament together, if for no other […]

Weet-bix ethics lesson

Saturday 31 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“It’s complete and utter nonsense for James Beer and the Solicitor-General to justify issuing five hardship loans to MPs (the Maoates) and even BTIB members on the basis there was ‘no conflict of interest’,” a smoke signaller writes. “Beer’s BTIB board has not properly explained why they changed the criteria, enabling the Maoates to access […]

Relax and enjoy

Saturday 31 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I, like Doug May, live in Australia with my husband and two children. I, like Doug May, was fortunate to be one of the passengers on the inaugural flight NZ49 from Sydney to Rarotonga on Sunday July 4. I, like No Sunday Flights Supporter, agree that we don’t need people like Doug May […]

Block the budget

Saturday 31 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was somewhat surprised to hear the opposition leader say on TV on Thursday night that the ‘talking point is not so much how long parliament has been in recess’ but that the focus should be on supply for the country. I guess if one earns $80,000 and drives around in a government […]

Kata - July 31, 2010

Saturday 31 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Stop wondering

Saturday 31 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Before that drama in that courtroom when they were shouting ‘crucify him, crucify him’, a few days before they brought a woman whom they accused of committing adultery according to their law the penalty is death by stoning. He bent to the ground and wrote. Her accusers moved closer to see what was […]

Deliberate gross misappropriation

Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I strongly oppose the comments by Matauri Ruta in his article to the editor dated July 21 in comparing Christ’s crucifixion with the Maoate’s beneficial gain for $60,000 from the stimulus package. As a BTIB member, Mr Ruta’s comments were quite evident, as a recipient of $30,000, of course, he has to be […]

Tribe says enough is enough

Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As titleholders of the Uritaua Tribe in Avatiu Rarotonga, we wish to place on record, our concerns regarding several comments made by Albert Nicholas in a media statement in the CI News recently “ Nicholas alleges dirty tactics”. He made reference to three issues: questioning the Pu Tapere (John Henry) and what has […]

Kata - July 30, 2010

Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in Kata

I have a fantastic life

Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Te akaroa iakoe e te po (unknown identity) i te kiteanga au e, ko taau pauanga openga teia ki taku au kiritianga autara ki te etita. I am saddened for you (unknown identity), knowing that this will be your final response to my letter to the editor. Te akaroa nei au iakoe no […]