Opinion
'Unable to live at home'
Wednesday 18 November 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
“On the TV news the other night, New Zealand consumers were reported to be getting hit harder and harder by rising food prices, some of the highest in the world,” a reader says. “If the Cooks buys almost all its food from New Zealand, what does it make our prices? Then compare our lower income […]
'Reaction to protest gone too far'
Wednesday 18 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, We refer to your front page article in the Cook Islands News on Monday November 16 headed ‘Protest gone too far’. It made for interesting reading when you quoted the many half truths from the local politician Teina Bishop. We feel we have to respond and convey the real facts. The protest group […]
Farewell to Rarotonga
Tuesday 17 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Having been to your very beautiful country on a few occasions, I would just like to point out that the whole world is not rich! I for one will not be back to your wonderful island and have to pay that large of a departure tax. I think someone’s head got hit by […]
Vaccine: life saver or killer?
Tuesday 17 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I read with sadness about a young baby who died after being injected with poisons (vaccinated) and the plan by our health officials to do the same to 10% of the population including pregnant women with untested and unproven swine flu vaccines. My research into and knowledge of vaccines spurs me to express […]
Akaou'anga, kia vai teateamamao tatou
Tuesday 17 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Kia orana Eaa te tuatua Maori no te kupu reform. Eaa tona aiteanga e tona puapinga no tatou i teia ra. Eaa tona ngai tu kaui. Manganui te kupu Maori tau no te akamarama i teia kupu papa’a – akaouanga/akatuke’ anga/ taui’anga e te vai atura. Kiriti mai au i te kupu akaou’anga ei tatara […]
Tax beats borrowing
Monday 16 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I read Adrian Southwick’s entry about the $55 departure tax and I would like to address a couple of the issues he raised. The Cook Islands does NOT have ‘one of the most expensive departure taxes in the world’ Here’s a quick comparison of the departure taxes/fees imposed by different countries. The data […]
How lucky to learn te reo and earn PR
Monday 16 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Learning conversational Maori to earn PR is pretty easy. How lucky you are to earn it, just by practising speaking simple Maori on the streets, at home and in hotels. If you have been given that PR, look after it, you will never know when it will be terminated if you abuse it. […]
Parents could learn te reo at school
Monday 16 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The debate about whether or not permanent residents should speak te reo Maori is older than most people think. I remember it was being discussed in January 1999 at the country’s National Languages Workshop, and probably before then too. This workshop involved not only teachers from throughout the country but public and private […]
Nandi, a refreshing change
Monday 16 November 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
Our MPs are notoriously well travelled, attending the most obscure and unjustified courses and talkfests the world over, and they take flak for it, but mostly they just arrogantly ignore the cries of ordinary people for feedback, justification, and accountability. CINews has tried several times to request a travel diary or itinerary of cabinet ministers, […]
It's not 'any prison'
Saturday 14 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, How boring but politically expedient for members of Cabinet to suggest that the head of the Superintendent of Prison should roll. All your critics, including our ‘wise’ politicians, seem to have a span of memory that does not extend beyond the immediate controversy. The suggestion by Gordon Sawtell (my good friend) that lock […]
Te reo policy a breach of UN Declaration of Human Rights
Saturday 14 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I suspect that something is fundamentally wrong with our new Te Reo policy for future Permanent Residence applicants. The policy could be in breach of several Articles of the United Nations ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. The Cook Islands government in its dealing with its citizens is duty bound to respect this key […]
CI departure fee far from highest
Friday 13 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Once again we get a letter to the editor from people that believe our departure fees are excessive. It is only because we are unable to include (hide) our fees in the ticket price that ignorant people like this last letter writer have cause to complain. Mr Southwick suggests he might have been […]
Morals before degrees
Friday 13 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I thank the person who spoke his/her concern of the new principal of Tereora. Should we encourage our kids to get a degree? Yes. But what has degree got to do with life? Greed, corruption, theft, etc. Did you know that the people that have caused the financial crisis in the world have […]
Give him a chance
Friday 13 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I have a great concern at the way we treat our own who were given chances to prove themselves in our educational system. I am very pleased with the support given by those who know Teaea Parima well and the great achievement he made in the lives of our children on Mangaia – […]
Principal defended
Friday 13 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Upon my return to Rarotonga last weekend from travel overseas on Ministry of Education business, I was saddened to learn of the public and personal attack made by a writer to your paper on Mr Teaea Parima’s appointment to the Principalship of Tereora College. Whilst I am not in the habit of defending […]
'Marurai must be stepped down'
Friday 13 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor. In response to the fantastic letter by ‘Wake up’ yesterday, I agree that Marurai must be stepped down. I am sure that everyone agrees. Not only is he drowning the country as well as himself, he is also accountable to God for leading the people “astray”. Ezekiel 34 states very very clearly many […]
Double escape not unexpected
Friday 13 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The most recent double escape from the Arorangi Prison was not altogether unexpected given the state of the dilapidated old buildings. Not until the minister of finance provides funding to restructure the prison and also for the staff to be trained is there likely to be any improvement. This has been said over […]
Land Court reform is critical
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
It’s more important than parliamentary reform, says lawyer Norman George Dear Editor, My friend Joseph Ka’s letter to the editor yesterday dated November 11 prompts me to write this response. 1. After practising in the Land Court for the past 20 years, I have on many occasions walked out of court gutted and disappointed with […]
Consult the north first
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It is quite disappointing to read that the government is going ahead and passing a bill without consulting with the people of the Northern Group, as the majority of the seabed resources are found in the northern parts of the Cook Islands. Terepai Maoate Junior had a consultation meeting with the people of […]
Learning Maori isn't easy
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I was one of the lucky people getting my PR last time, and I’m grateful for that. I’ve been trying to learn Maori for many years and think it’s a great idea that you now have to learn Maori to get your PR, but…where do you learn it? It’s easy to say mingle […]
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