Opinion

Could Omicron be a good thing?

The reason some authorities view Omicron positively is that it has very high transmissibility (although interestingly not as transmissible as measles) but probably low pathogenicity, writes Associate Prof John Dunn FRACS (Ngati Terei).

LETTERS: We are all in this together?

Dear Editor, dear Prime Minister, please don’t keep using the phrase “We are all in this together”.

Health vs wealth: ‘We are all in this Vaka together’

The question remains, and one I also have thought long and deeply about, does the health of a country come before the wealth of a country, or does the wealth of a country come before the health of a country and its citizens., writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

Kata: Work

LETTERS: ‘No place like home’

Dear Editor, Significant numbers left in the 70s with the opening of the international airport and another mass exodus in 1996 during the reform (Pa Enua population on the decline, January 26).

Kata: Covid-19

LETTERS: Learning to live with Covid

Dear Editor, things are getting amped up here on the island, as we prepare for the “Omicron” threat.

Kata: Local Bank

LETTERS: Prevention is better than cure

Dear Editor, when I saw the clip of flights arriving in Raro of the lady working at the airport with a face shield and no mask, it just showed they are definitely not prepared and putting themselves and others at risk.

Alpha then Delta, now Omicron

The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, has fuelled a rapid surge in cases globally. We asked a team of virologists and immunologists Sara Sawyer, Arturo Barbachano-Guerrero and Cody Warren from the University of Colorado Boulder to weigh in on some of the pressing questions that people are asking about the new variant.

Hope for the best – prepare for the worst

The hard work and dedication of all of our teams, combined with Government’s recent investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, has greatly lessened the storm’s impact on our communities, writes Prime Minister Mark Brown.

LETTERS: As different as chalk and cheese

Dear Editor, this is a follow-up to the letter to the editor regarding foreign workers breaching their contracts, upping and heading for New Zealand (‘NZ created labour shortage problem’, January 20).

Kata: Trail of destruction

Heavy downpours and economic shock

We need a government who would recognise the economic value in easy to reach, easy to manage ourselves, nuggets and nodules of food lying on our ground, not miles under our ocean, writes Ruta Mave.

Taau, Taku Tita – young dancers encourage us to take responsibility for waste

Taau, taku tita – the latest dance track written by Phoebe Happ of Kuki Time 4 Kids, and presented by a group of talented young dancers from Kuki Time Cre8tive, is Te Ipukarea Society’s newest waste awareness advert coming soon to a TV screen near you. By Itirangi Pennycook.

Kata: Tropical Weather

How not to forget God’s promises?

While teaching and helping out in the 2-and 3 year-olds Sunday School class at my church, I noticed that many times per class the children had “remembering” problems, writes Rich Atkinson of cru.org.

Kata: Tsunami Alert

LETTERS: ‘NZ created labour shortage problem’

Dear Editor, four years ago, I travelled to the Philippines to meet and interview needed employees for our businesses.

Hanging on by a thread or better than ever?

Well I hate to be proven right once again. This time the word out on the street is that the BTIB (Business Trade and Investment Board) under the management of chief executive Repeta Puna is now just hanging on by a thread, writes Te Tuhi Kelly, Leader of the Progressive Party.