Opinion

Thomas Wynne: The hidden scars of our community

Just over 30 per cent of all those who identified as Pacific islanders to the Royal Commission into Abuse in State Care in Aotearoa identified as Cook Islanders, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

Letter: ‘Holes’ in water tariff report

Dear Editor, Regarding proposed water tariffs: the subject of Ruta Mave’s article (15 July); and the subsequent response from the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Letters, 19 July).

Kata: Cannabis

Letter: Mistreatment of cattle

For years I’ve been concerned about the mistreatment of cattle kept around the town end of the runway. A lot of them are kept in areas where there is no grass but mimosa pudica plants that are toxic to cattle.

Letter: Shipping company’s ‘reckless’ record

Dear Editor, I am shocked by the continued dangerous operations of Taio Shipping.

Letter: Election gimmick or real progress?

Dear Editor, The Sovereign Wealth Fund meetings by Government is a real farce. There is no harvesting, no transportation of minerals to markets, no pricing, no sales, nothing!

Letter: Toa trees

You have reported that construction company T&M Heather Ltd appears to admit to an ‘offence’ under the Environment Act 2003 by cutting mature trees on the foreshore at Tikioki, not only without consent, but after being told by National Environment Service (NES) that the cutting was not allowed. Perhaps a legal type can correct the writer, but is ‘offence’ just a nicer word, at law, for ‘crime’?

Letter: The ‘butchering’ of Toa trees

Dear Editor, Kia Orana. Reading about the major destruction of Toa trees in the Akapuao/Fruits of Raro area, and NES’ comments in the Cook Islands News (20 July, 2024).

Kata: CI at Olympics

Ruta Mave: Can you trust your government?

Constant lying by governments is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore. When the people can no longer distinguish between truth and a lie they then cannot distinguish between right and wrong. With such people, you can do whatever you want. It is how you sell it – ‘Water will be Free.’

Letter: Paris trip: Junket or necessary expense?

Dear Editor, This Olympics thing from CISNOC (Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee) is the biggest junket ever and historically always has been.

Kata: IT outage

Thomas Wynne: Who is a patriot?

What is a patriot? Is it simply a green, red, blue, or gold flag waved, anthems sung, or a political position or party held high like the only hope of a country being great or even great again? Thomas Tarurongo Wynne writes.

Virtues in Paradise: The virtues of celebrating culture

One of the most significant ways the traditional Cook Islands culture is passed down to the youth is through celebrations, writes Linda Kavelin-Popov.

Kata: TTV

Letter: Appointment process

How interesting that the PSC keeps saying that the Mr Lewis was one of the top three candidates for the role of Secretary for Education - when he was the first of the five interviewed to receive an email saying he was not successful in his application to become the Secretary.

Letter: ‘Equity’ in water tariffs

Dear Editor, I write to you in response to your contributor Ruta Mave in her column in the Monday, July 15th edition titled ‘Water tariff public consultations a tick-box exercise?’.