Opinion

Immigration confirms $60 spouse fee

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in response to the article ‘Time for a fresh start’ that appeared in Saturday’s edition of Cook Islands News. Focusing on what is for Immigration and no doubt most of your readers, the most important point of interest in the above article, may I simply recall that Immigration met with Ms […]

Kata - March 16, 2011

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Internet charges 'plain outrageous'

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In skimming your website I happened across a letter that stated, “What really concerned me about the TCI bill was the fact that almost $400 of this $500 bill related to the usage of the internet by myself and four, school aged children during the past two months.” A following letter stated that […]

Hitches at Mire Atu explained

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to the letters to the editor on the matter of technical issues at the Mire Atu composters competition, I met with my team who were here for the event to discuss the issues raised, mainly what caused the technical problems leading to these complaints. 1. Feedback – overall this was during […]

Kata - March 14, 2011

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Red wine without the alcohol

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Responding to Saturday’s smoke signal Alcholesterol, CITC Pharmacy manager Shannon Saunders writes: “The Ministry of Health article in Thursday’s paper [page 11] recommended ‘Drink alcohol in small amounts’. I am sure what they meant by this was for people to drink responsibly and consider reducing their alcohol consumption if they have health problems. With regards […]

A tax increase is a bigger threat to the country than Telecom

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Telecom critic going under ‘Gumboot maniac’ (CI News March 8) is aptly ‘non de plumed’. There is something manic in his approach where he tries to show he’s a good analyst with information few other people have, because he fails to acknowledge other relevant issues. He writes that Telecom is the most loathed […]

Grow up

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations to the leadership and members of the Democratic Party for their decision to support the confidence motion in the new Prime Minister and his government. This is an evidence that our new crop of parliamentarians are showing maturity but I’m sad to see that one of our longest serving members of parliament, […]

Bid for Steve Barrett

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are dumbfounded, down in the dumps, reeling from shock, to hear that Steve Barrett didn’t win the Island Secretary position for Mauke. Logic told us that as he had been called to represent Mauke at recent meetings planning for the future he must be in. Please tell us this isn’t political. We […]

Our sovereignty was usurped

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have reports of Mr Bruce Ruatapu Mita’s meetings in 2008 and last Thursday night. I also have cuttings of published condemnations and now of Pa Marie’s deprecation of him in your front page story last Friday. I opined that the apparition fibres of all te ‘aka’apa, ‘akakino and scoffing at Mr Mita […]

Kata - March 12, 2011

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Is anybody home?

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Just wondering what has been organised for warning systems in the outer islands?” asks a smoke signaller following yesterday morning’s Pacific-wide tsunami warning as a result of the massive 8.9 earthquake in Japan. “Just heard some people living on north coast of Mauke knew nothing of the tsunami until they woke up this morning, and […]

What if I blew up?

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you to Thomas Peyroux for explaining a lot about the sound on the night of the composers competition. I was a backup singer on the night and I was getting little electric shocks every time I touched the mic. When I told the soundman I was getting shocks he did nothing. I […]

Is this an attempt to gag?

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read this article about information being requested by the Clerk of the House. I sincerely hope this is not the first step in an attempt to gag the local news providers. I know from reading your paper over many years (both online and when I am in Raro) that you are not […]

Not the rightful titleholder

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your front page story yesterday about Marie Rima Desiree George Ani Rima Peyroux known to others as Marie Pa Ariki urging the “ui ariki not to repeat mistakes” amused me. The Pa Ariki title belongs to the Kopu Ariki of the title, that is, to us the descendants of Pa Tepou Taputapuatea Tepuretu […]

Shame on rip-offs

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am very disgusted to learn that some of our own people will gladly rip off our elderly folks for their own selfish gain. An elderly woman of Ngatangiia was charged $400 for the cutting of her lawns (2), one for $250 and the other for $150. Previously, she had it cut by […]

Undersea cable could never pay its way

Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am a 22-year-old Cook Islander living in New Zealand. I was living in Rarotonga from 2001 to 2007 and I have seen firsthand how ridiculous the data and speed plans are from dial up to the ‘New Age’ Broadband, and I can tell you after living here in NZ and enjoying 20MB […]

Kata - March 11, 2011

Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Don't play vulgar music!

Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On Monday morning while driving to work as usual with the radio on, a Maori song that was playing at about 7.40am caught my attention. I was so outraged at such a low class composition on wife beating. What was this person thinking while composing the song, is it a reflection of himself? […]

Help repatriate Cook Islanders

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Since the calamity of the earthquake in Christchurch coupled by the loss of lives in a disaster so devastating for the people of Christchurch and the entire nation, it is good to hear the Cook Islands Community in Christchurch coming together to provide spiritual and emotional support amongst each other during these difficult […]