Opinion

Fiji flight gets big thumbs up

Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was happy to read the article in the CI News regarding discussion to have the direct flight restarted from Rarotonga to Nadi. It will definitely bring more tourists in and also connects Cook Islanders with Fiji as many of us have friends and family there that we can visit or come visit […]

Standing naked before us

Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The article by Bishop Tutai Pere last weekend on the political situation here gave me some hope that not everyone is blinded or dazzled by the PM’s finery. You may recall the story of the emperor who wore no clothes. He was conned by a couple of very smart guys who convinced him […]

God bless Aitutaki

Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My name is Elizabeth Napara from Cairns, Australia. I just want to know how our people in Aitutaki getting on. Please let us know the latest news of our island, we are praying to our Father in Heaven to help our people on the Island of Aitutaki. May God Bless every one there, […]

Have some decency, resign

Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Toa Petroleum has won! What further needs to be said except for the people of this country to pronounce the ultimate sentence. Sholan is gone. Now, Jim Marurai, step down! To all those who were members of Cabinet as per the Toa scandal Maoate, Wilkie, Vavia, Munokoa, Ioane and your then Prime Minister […]

Christian view

Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor We would like to inform Mr Priest that the 2006 Census showed that 89.7 per cent of the Cook Islands are Christians. Kia akameitakiia te Atua mana maata for Bishop Tutai Pere who spoke out against the woes of Cook Islands politics for the 13,753 Christians of the Cook Islands. TAS Titikaveka (name […]

Toa makes CI laughing stock

Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Well, when all the hardworking private businesspeople, many of whom are running at a loss in the present economic climate, walk up to MFEM on the 20th of the month to pay their taxes (which one would hope would go towards assisting health, education, police etc. which are sorely in need of extra […]

Out of his depth

Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor. Has the seat of big business come to sit in with Cabinet in the Cook Islands? Is the power of our gover-nment so eroded that it no longer can make decisions that benefit the majority of Cook Islanders? I refer Mr Editor to the most obvious problems this country faces, and in particular […]

Waiting for answers

Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor. Now that the trial of the century is over, the public are awaiting reports from Audit on the following. Pacific Mini Games historical line of approvals process, stadium costs, bunk beds, catering, school hosting, where did all the money go, give us the breakdown? TOA Dispel public rumour and political shenanigans. Release the […]

Retiree market best bet for CI

Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Ron Hickling, Tutakimoa, has hit the nail on the head. There is a retiree market and NZ is your best bet. What do you compare a tourist with a couple of grand to spend, or a retiree with a couple of hundred grand, who wants to live their lives out in the Cooks […]

Not a Christian attitude

Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Mokare Mataiapo’s letter to the editor in the Cook Islands News. Mokare Mataiapo’s letters to the editor makes no sense, they are worthless and pointless. He not only puts down our papaa family and friends, Mokare Mataiapo and his so called son Wilkie Rasmussen bring shame to […]

Demo conference a cunning plan

Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The political conference to be called at the end of month on May 31 by Sean Willis and Robert Wigmore is to elect Wigmore as leader of their new party and to sack Marurai as prime minister of this country. They cannot, however, sack the prime minister this side of election 2010 as […]

Kata - May 19, 2010

Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Religion and politics

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing about Bishop Tutai Pere’s rambling rhetoric in last Friday’s Churchtalk column. There is a rather pervasive religious element in our society, but we are still a secular country, and merging religion with politics can create a volatile mix, as is evident in the deadly insurgencies and wars motivated by this […]

Give minority a taste of their own medicine

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A few months ago, a group of 19 MPs from the Demos and CIP, claiming to have a majority, called on the Prime Minister to call Parliament to resolve any leadership and administration issues within the country. Marurai, Wilkie and Wigmore and their minority group refused and hid behind the country’s constitution even […]

Telecom answers Framheim's allegations

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Telecom would like to make a public statement about the ongoing allegations from Mr Franheim on behalf of Mervin Communications. WiFi pricing First, in relation to Telecom’s ISP network services, I can confirm that Telecom sells a variety of broadband connection plans to businesses and residential customers. Telecom also provides WiFi and cybercafe […]

Kata - May 18, 2010

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Our very own Gilligan's Island

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

The safe return of the four from Manuae is fantastic news, but attention now must be given to the investigation into what really happened to ensure there isn’t a repeat of what must have been a costly rescue mission. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that all four men should not have […]

Mervin asks if Telco networks are legal

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Local company Mervin Communications is questioning the legality of foreign telecommunications networks operating in the country. Director William Framhein says it is probable that the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) and cabinet have not given their consent for the foreign enterprises to carry on business in the Cook Islands. He says it is possible that […]

Spider's did it first

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to page 6 in CI News of May 14 and would like to correct the headline ‘Let’s all follow CITC’s example’. This should have read: ‘Let’s all follow Spider’s Aitutaki example’. It was Spider’s Supermarket here in Aitutaki, owned by Savage Lockington, who together with his very able CEO James Wearing […]

Questions and answers

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read the questions that Pastor Tutai Pere is asking of our leadership, and I read the questions that Sean Willis is asking of Pastor John Tangi. When I consider the notion that politics and religion don’t mix, I get to understand just how flawed some of our thinking is. Should pastors only […]