Letters to the Editor
Tuesday 7: SMOKE SIGNAL- We sell our souls but can't go solar
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
The drawings for the new airport terminal buildings don’t seem to show the north facing roofs covered every square metre in photovoltaic panels, observes a signaler, who writes: Surely we are not going into a building from the past? We sell our souls to the Tiger of the East for millions of dollars to put […]
Tuesday 7: More trips by MPs, and more spending
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, There appears to be no real financial planning by the DPM and Sholan on this massive $50 million loan from China. On top of this, another $20 million seems to be given as extra under a grant. Government has not shown just how much our road and water repairs will cost, but at […]
Tuesday 7: Pukapuka decision outrageous
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Although not of Pukapukan descent, I am 100% supportive of the justified stance taken by the president of the Pukapukan community in Rarotonga, Mr Makirere Poila, and his group, in regards to the proposed European Union funded cyclone shelter project for Pukapuka island. In view of the obvious simplicity of such a project, […]
Tuesday 7: Lack of tourists is too important
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I would like to reply to two recent letters to the paper criticising the suggestion that the $3m stimulus package should be put into tourism. They have other opinions and fair enough. I would like to comment on each of the points in these two letters – not to be smart but to […]
Monday 6: Issue fishing licences carefully
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I would like to voice my concern at the issuing of fishing licenses to foreign countries. All I ask is that it is done with the greatest of care, thought and with careful restrictions put in place. Some of these countries have depleted their own fish stocks and will do the same to […]
Tuesday 31: One point shouldn't affect 100% Wale
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The successful tender for the Pukapuka contract IS still going to an overseas company using local consultants. Chris Manu would be involved no matter who got the job, as he was subcontracting his services to all four other tenderers including Romanisdesign. Regarding papa Tere Temu, he was left out of our own cyclone […]
Thursday 26: A good book
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, After reading Rev Steadman’s and Brian Chitty’s recent attacks on the scientific basis of evolution, I suggest they read Prof. Richard Dawkin’s bestseller ‘The God Delusion’, probably the most influential book on this subject ever. I am sure we all agree that access to information is the corner stone of a healthy informed […]
Tuesday 31: Tender criticism not right
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, As Mr Polia has chosen to name me in his rather defamatory letter to the editor in your issue of Friday March 27, I feel I should have the right of reply. Contrary to Mr Polia: 1. The committee consisted of Mac Mokoroa, Tingika Elikana, Steve Anderson, Chris Reynolds and myself. It did […]
Thursday 26: Pay query
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I note with a wry smile the Office of the DPM putting out a paid advert to combat comments made by the Chamber of Commerce in Tuesday’s edition of your paper. Can we establish whether this money to pay for this advert was paid from the DPM’s personal income, or was it paid […]
Saturday 28 March: SMOKE SIGNALS - Smashing interest rates
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Westpac’s new housing loan interest rate of 9.95% (about 10%) is a classic example of commercial banks and the government being not very successful in their bid to curtail our economic predicament, says a signaller. “The more our commercial banks try to reduce interest rates as a result of market pressure and community criticism, the […]
Thursday 26: Minister 'all ears'
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, If I could correct a few matters. First I am not going to Queenstown for the Pacific Games Council meeting, although I have been invited. But I will attend the Oceania Games Council meeting later in April and make a presentation there. Secondly, I am not on the Seabed Minerals Bill Parliamentary Select […]
Saturday 28 March: So clever
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, You cannot appropriate what you don’t know. Our local papa’a are so clever that it prompts me to ask Mr Evans and his worldly buddies as to, for what purpose is he here on earth and where did he come from? Then if he cares to answer as truthfully as he alone can, […]
Thursday 26: Canadian civil engineer volunteers to help
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, My wife and I have been visiting the Cook Islands since 1992. Since I retired from the consulting engineering business, we have been coming for two months to escape our cold winters in Canada. We read the Cook Islands News every day and take a keen interest in the local issues. It is […]
Saturday 28 March: Stand our ground, keep it local
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Good on the Vice President of the Demo Party Makirere Poila for making a stand against the invasion of foreign companies to the Cook Islands to undertake work that can actually be quite easily carried out by local companies. Surely there is no need for some rocket scientist overseas company to both design […]
Saturday 28 March: Pulse recruitment of surgeonfishes good news
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I was excited to read the March 18 article online about the little fishes reported around Rarotonga, and I can’t help but to offer some information about it. This sounds like a pulse recruitment of surgeonfishes, probably Ctenocheatus striatus and Acanthurus nigrofuscus (as mentioned by MMR), but could also include other species such […]
Saturday 28 March: Happy tourists suggest marking trails
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, We just returned from a fabulous three-week vacation to your wonderful islands that included stays on Rarotonga, Atiu and Aitutaki. We will never forget the warm island hospitality, enthusiasm and gorgeous settings which made experiencing the Cooks really special for us. A big metaki to Papa Mike and his Cook Islands Handbook for […]
Friday 27: Not deluded
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I have not read ‘The God Delusion’ but have read reviews of it. Its author is jokingly called the “evangelical atheist” and one reviewer said his purpose is to convince his reader that he is no more than “an interruption in nothingness”! If Graham feels so passionate about ‘this brilliant little book’ as […]
Friday 27: But who do we believe?
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I was amused, or should I say confused, by the comments made by the religious advisory council (RAC) in your March 18 edition. My impression of this article is that the RAC are not happy to grant a new religious group or church the legal status of becoming an incorporated society like they […]
Friday 27: Handouts are political suicide
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Further to the letter by Don Carlaw (CINews March 24), I would totally agree that the $3m stimulus package put aside by parliament in early February be utilised for something far more beneficial than handouts to a select few businesses. The example quoted was on a loan of $500,000 at an interest rate […]
Friday 27: Read the other side
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, After reading Graham Wragg’s recommendation of a book call ‘The God Delusion’ by Richard Dawkins, I suggest he also read the books below which show up theories such as what Dawkins dedicates his life to as inaccurate and manipulating. These books are very scientific – despite the information spouted by certain individuals recently […]