Opinion

Letter: Tereora College ‘on life support’

Dear Editor, This letter has been a long time in the making and is tough to write, but I felt compelled to express my frustration and disappointment with our current education system in the perhaps forlorn hope that it might help kickstart a national conversation about the present state of affairs as it relates to our children’s secondary school education here on Rarotonga.

Kata: Backlog of papers in Parliament

Pet Talk: Dental care for pet

Maintaining good dental health is crucial for the overall well-being of your cat or dog, writes Dr Rose Hasegawa, medical director Te Are Manu Vet Clinic.

Letter: Crown responsibilities

Clerk of Parliament Tangata Vainerere is quoted saying “On the comment that the Crown will win, it is based on reality.”

Letter: Protecting our biodiversity

Dear Editor, Over a week ago, a group from NES carried out a workshop in Mauke to gain local input, knowledge and concerns as we update the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan from 2002.

Kata: Prison limo

Michael Tavioni: Nodules and pollution: Time to clean up our act

The Underwater Minerals Conference (UMC) has come to its conclusion. It was a great opportunity for the people to attend and ask questions and perhaps be better informed, especially those who wish to impose a moratorium on the research part, writes Michael Tavioni.

Kata: Prison work scheme

Letter: PM’s priorities amid rising crime 

Dear Editor,

Letter: Rarotonga’s Good Samaritans

Dear Editor, As a first time visitor to Rarotonga, primarily for the Round Raro 31km event, my wife and I have been having a superb time, appreciating your island’s natural beauty and meeting many engaging locals.

Ruta Mave: ‘This is a joke not justice’

Back in the day when discipline meant something and if you were disobedient, cruel or lying you were punished with the use of physical force like the wooden spoon, hair brush, or Dad’s belt or hand so that you would remember it and choose not to do it again – or else, writes Ruta Mave.

Kata: Inmates hired by families

Te Ipukarea Society: Rat free Takutea on its way: Stage 1 of eradication project successfully concluded

Stage one of the Takutea Rat Eradication Project has successfully concluded, with the field team arriving back in Atiu and Rarotonga aboard the Marumaru Atua last Saturday morning.

Thomas Wynne: Be a good ancestor

We are more than just warriors, we are data collectors too. We all have that person in our family who is the data collector – generally a genealogy data collector, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

Kata: Fake customs and traditions

Letter: The menace of fake customs in Cook Islands

The Cook Islands, with its rich cultural heritage and pristine natural beauty, has long been a beacon for tourists and researchers alike. However, in recent times, the islands have been plagued by a disturbing trend: the proliferation of fake customs and traditions.

Letter: Parliament calendar: 42 days pledged,12 delivered

Dear Editor, I must thank Mr. Moekaa for his recent reminder that our Parliament continues to dazzle us with its efficiency – or lack thereof – despite its ever-generous budget allocation and the ambitious calendar of sitting days it adopted with such gusto last year … the calendar that was supposed to keep Parliament glued to their seats for 42 days in 2024. I’m sure the MPs had every intention of working those days … until, well, they didn’t.

Kata: Parliament session

Letter: Constitution Amendment Bill

I’m sure that Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne in her observations of Niue’s recent referendum was being sarcastic, when she said: “Sadly the article does not give reasons why more than double the voters voted against increasing the term of Parliament.”

Letter: Only in the Cook Islands

Dear Editor, On Monday, September 16, after starting at 1pm, Parliament adjourned around 1.27pm to allow MPs to attend the opening of the netball U20 qualifiers. Maybe you should ask your MP whether s/he attended the opening.