Opinion

Letter: ‘We have had enough’

Prime Minister Mark Brown has finally found the time to sit down – not with his people, but with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Letter: Media manipulation or public backlash?

Dear Editor, Prime Minister Mark Brown accuses New Zealand of using its media to undermine his government, as if the anger Cook Islanders are feeling is somehow manufactured by foreign newsrooms.

Kata - Water petition

March 3, 2025

Ruta Mave: When ‘special friends’ become predators

Grooming used to be a political terminology used when speaking of an upcoming potential candidate for future elections. It still resides in the political arena but it has become a sickness, Ruta Mave writes.

Letter: Recognising Herman’s leadership at SBMA

Dear Editor, As the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) bids farewell to its esteemed former SBM Commissioner, Alexandrya Herman, with high respect and honour whom we had often referred to as our Esther, a woman of faith, resolute, with extraordinary passion and thriving vision, we take a moment to reflect on her exceptional leadership and contributions over the past five years.

Letter: Echoes of 1996

Dear Editor, In 1996, the Cook Islands went bankrupt. Lloyd Powell of the Asian Development Bank was appointed as the Bankruptcy Trustee during the forced restructuring process.

Virtues in Paradise: Fruits of the spirit

Does your heart ever ache over something you’ve lost? Linda Kavelin-Popov writes.

Kata: Putin & Trump

Thomas Wynne: Readying the sails for home

Four years ago, in December 2019, like so many of our people, I made the difficult decision to leave behind all I knew and had built – my wife, my parents, my family – to seek new skills and new learnings beyond the reef in another government and Parliament, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

Te Ipukarea Society: Deep sea mining - Exploring the unknowns

Polymetallic nodules look like lumps of coal scattered across the seafloor. They have a similar purpose as coal as well, to provide energy. But they have many other reasons to exist, most of which we do not yet know or understand.

Kata: Winston to China

Letter: Fund the Police, Not MP Travel

For years, the Cook Islands Police Service has been crying out for more frontline officers. They need 46 staff across all divisions. Recruitment is frozen. The Maritime Division is stretched to breaking point. There’s barely anyone left for community policing—just one officer, trying to cover an entire nation.

Letter: Response to Warren Wichman’s ‘Celebrating War”

Dear Warren Wichman, The 105mm Howitzer provided by the NZ Defence Force, was for the contribution Cook Island men and women have made to the NZ Defence Force from WW1 onwards.

Letter: Out of touch with reality

Kia Orana Editor, Poor Mark Brown is simply out of touch with reality.

Letter: Plastic ‘carvings’

Mr Editor Many of the hundreds of tourists swarming off the big cruise liners like an invasion end up at Punanga Nui Market and stand in front of the big display labeled, "Cook Islands Necklaces" at $9 each - the ones that left China at 50 cents or so, plastic "carvings".

Te Tuhi Kelly: Focus on the future of our villages

Te Tuhi Kelly, Leader of the Progressive Party states there has been much sabre rattling going on with regards to people talking to him about getting rid of the Government.

Kata: NZ China meeting

Letter: No such thing as luck

Dear Mr, Mrs, Miss, Master Cartoonist, Ghost writer-artist (of CIs.news 25/02/25 Kata’s page 4), there is absolutely no such thing as luck, chance nor coincidence but faith, obedience and belief in Jesus Christ, who says in John 14:10 – 14: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11, Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake.

Letter: Dear Tin Soldier – “Stand at Ease” “Stand Easy”

Yes, we did receive much advice from about covering the 105mm L5 Howitzer on the day the gun was put in place. This advice came from a number of well-meaning consultants – builders, painters and also old Australian Gunners.

Letter: Dubiousness puzzling behaviour

Dear Editor, We cannot allow Mr Brown's statement that the NZ media and experts think the Cook Island nation are "too dumb" to realise the implications of its own decisions, go without comment.