Editorials
‘Hard Talks’ explore empowerment for Cook Islands LGBTQ+ community
Tuesday 16 April 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The empowering “Kai Vananga – Hard Talks” panel discussions, exploring empowerment for the Anuanua (LGBTQ+) community, were held yesterday at the Muri Beach Club Hotel in celebration of the Anuanua festival week.
Opinion: Decriminalisation of same-sex relations in Cook Islands
Tuesday 16 April 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Cook Islands decriminalised same-sex relations a year ago, following a long and arduous journey that began around 2010. Valery Wichman and Hilary Gorman examine the origins of the criminalisation and its impact on the Cook Islands Ānuanua community.
Ruta Mave: Are we ready for the UN high chair?
Monday 15 April 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The American president JF Kennedy said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country.” Our Prime Minister’s motto appears to be “Ask every country you meet what can they do for our country”, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: Responding to my call home
Saturday 13 April 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Shaming others who can’t speak the language, who are trying to learn, by maligning them in person or online with cruel and crippling words like ‘plastic’ is wrong, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta mave: Beyond the partial eclipse- A total cover-up of corruption?
Monday 8 April 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The trial may be only a partial eclipse of the theft by the three convicted but although we are not able to see it, there probably lies a total cover up of, corruption beyond our comprehension that we are kept completely in the dark about, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: Charting our course in a shifting world
Saturday 6 April 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
There is always plenty of room at the table to eat. This is something my grandmother and mother have always said, and more importantly, they practiced what they preached, which is how we have lived our lives, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: Egg-cellent adventure- Why Easter Egg Hunts are a tradition worth keeping
Tuesday 2 April 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
April first was also Easter Monday and the idea of a rabbit distributing colourful chocolate eggs seems like a plausible April fool prank, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: Amazing Grace: How a hymn was born from a life redeemed
Saturday 30 March 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Amazing Grace, that saved a wretch like me – such an amazing grace to us all, is captured so beautifully in a song so many of us would have sung at one time in our lives, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: Zero tolerance for corruption- CJ Keane sends powerful message
Monday 25 March 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
The happy family photo in the paper taken outside the court after the sentencing before descending the steps into the police vehicles waiting to take the three convicts to jail totally bemused me, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: Leadership – the answer or the problem?
Saturday 23 March 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Guilty as charged, and now the sentence has been handed down and jail terms will commence. Not just for the three defendants that appeared in Court yesterday but for us all, our country’s good reputation and a withdrawal made from the public bank of trust and goodwill, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Te Tuhi Kelly: The pros and cons of increasing the size of Cabinet or voting by proxy
Wednesday 20 March 2024 | Written by Te Tuhi Kelly | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Once again, a couple of controversial amendments that more than meets the eye, I suspect. Would increasing the size of Cabinet or voting by proxy have been mooted if the Democrats as a proper Opposition were in fact an opposition, writes Te Tuhi Kelly, Leader of the Progressive Party of the Cook Islands.
Ruta Mave: Are we eating ourselves to death?
Monday 18 March 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
In the Pacific, large people denoted wealth to eat and store fat for times of famine from cyclones. In European societies poor women were fat while, husbands were thin. But rich men were fat and rich wives thin. Now rich or poor everyone is fat, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: Proxy voting- Is MP travel more important than Parliament?
Sunday 17 March 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
To proxy or not to proxy is the question being discussed at vaka meetings as Government has decided on a course where proxy votes, or votes counted when absent, will be included when Parliament sits, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: The unspoken realities of strong women
Monday 11 March 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Women’s day was celebrated with shared food and drink involving conversation, discussion and sharing of platitudes to being a unique, diverse, all-encompassing woman. Women waved flags of unity and sisterhood holding their heads high. Then, later that day, they would return to their roles as wife, mother, other at the beck and call of men. By Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: Reclaiming our reo Māori
Saturday 9 March 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Who grew up thinking of themselves as half caste, quarter caste or part this part that but never the total sum of all of who we are, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
SBMA Opinion: Two-year milestone for seabed minerals exploration licences
Saturday 9 March 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Last month marked two years since the country’s first seabed minerals exploration licences were issued on 23 February 2022. A major milestone and achievement for the Cook Islands after many years of preparation.
Thomas Wynne: A man of mana - A tribute to Fa’anānā Efeso Collins
Saturday 2 March 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
What is mana? At a funeral this week in Auckland where thousands attended, including many from our Cook Islands community, a man with mana, who loved God, his family and our community was honoured and laid to rest., writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: The price of deception: Love, lies and power plays
Monday 26 February 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
There is no difference between a mistress and a prostitute, because the base of beneficial rewards lies solely on the delivery of sex, writes Ruta Mave.
Thomas Wynne: From simply surviving to thriving
Saturday 24 February 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Cook Islanders in New Zealand have built strong communities and faced challenges, but the question remains whether their dreams of prosperity have been met and whether they should reconnect with their island homes. By Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Ruta Mave: Are MPs living up to their ‘honourable’ title?
Monday 19 February 2024 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Oh, dear it seems we do have adulterers in our midst who hold high standing public office. Adultery is not against the law – you can’t be charged for it. But it is against God’s Seventh commandment law; so how many ‘hail Mary’s’ is the penance for breaking it? Ruta Mave writes.