Opinion

Demos want a positive election

Monday 23 April 2018 | Published in Opinion

Despite the constant sniping by Minister of Finance Mark Brown on television, the Democratic Party is not going to go down the “eye for an eye” campaign direction.

Opinion

Minimum wage plan doesn't line up right

Monday 23 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Regarding the Democratic Party’s hollow and same-old, same-old manifesto.

Letters to the Editor

Undersea cable raises questions

Monday 23 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is an open letter to finance minister Mark Brown:

Letters to the Editor

Lessons to learn from children

Monday 23 April 2018 | Published in Opinion

An Aitutaki papa was reminiscing recently about the good old days, describing how fishermen came back with a tuna and made sure to share it with all the families before taking some home to their own.

Opinion

In the eye of a media storm

Monday 23 April 2018 | Published in Opinion

Two firestorms have raged in the news media and on social media lately and both have clear messages for us all.

Opinion

Permanent moorings could cut shipping costs

Monday 23 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, All of us in the Cook Islands – at least those of us who care about the Cook Islands people – are very grateful when we are given overseas funding to apply for such things as the shipping subsidy of $500,000 a year for three years.

Letters to the Editor

Smoke signals 20/04/2018

Friday 20 April 2018 | Published in Smoke Signals

A question of money…

Smoke Signals

Back road digging causes more problems

Friday 20 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I hope that any further digging alongside the back road in Tikioki will receive proper assessment to avoid wasting limited resources on unnecessary activities.

Letters to the Editor

Reform: It's time to think beyond the obvious

Friday 20 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In 20 years of discussing political reform, no-one ever seems to get beyond the thought of cutting some constituencies out and reducing seats.

Letters to the Editor

E tu e ara e te iti tangata Kuki Airani

Friday 20 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Kia Orana e te etita, E reo poroki teia na te Koutu Nui e te au arongamana e manako nei i teia au tumu tapura.

Letters to the Editor

Outer islands need doctors

Friday 20 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A number of decisions made by this present government over the last two terms of parliament have affected some, if not all Cook Islanders and were enacted despite serious protests from various sectors of the public.

Letters to the Editor

Road toll deemed 'money-grabbing'

Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

In March my family were holidaying in Rarotonga. I was very surprised to find that we had to pay a $5 toll every time we drove down the road to Wigmore’s Waterfall (there is a $2 charge per walker).

Letters to the Editor

Brown presents 'delusional picture'

Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black, or people in glasshouses should not throw stones? And who actually qualifies for his description of “ignorant”?

Letters to the Editor

Now's the time for another road check

Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Smoke Signals

After all the rain and flooding, now’s the time for PM Puna to do an inspection of the roads on Rarotonga, a smoke signaller says. “But try a motorbike this time and my advice wear a helmet: it’s a pothole minefield!”

Smoke Signals

Tax on NZ pensions

Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

A number of decisions have been made by this present government over the last two terms of parliament. These decisions affect some (if not all) Cook Islanders and were enacted despite serious protestations from various sectors of the public.

Letters to the Editor

Kata - 18/04/2018

Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Kata

Kata

Smokies - 18/04/2018

Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Smoke Signals

TE MATO VAI COSTINGS A LITTLE VAGUE In discussions with a fellow petitioner to parliament regarding Te Mato Vai, a question was raised regarding the lack of costings for the project. What would our three local banks think about lending on an application to finance a project of this magnitude? The application would read something like this: “It will be roughly $30 million for the ring main and another $34 million for stage two. A total of $64 million. (These figures are estimates only; we will know the real costs after we start the project).” EXTORTION CLAIMS What is the outcome of these ridiculous claims by Wilkie Rasmussen regarding George Pitt? Have the police completed their investigation? After all the media hype surrounding this much-publicised incident, nothing comes of it? SS: Our repeated questions on this subject have met with silence. It is strongly rumoured however, that Pitt is, or has been, advising some factions of the Democratic Party. CULTURE CONTEST JUDGING Congrats to all the Tereora College teams that competed in the cultural festival competition at the Auditorium last Thursday night. However, in the spirit of fairness, in the future, please don’t select judges who are directly helping the teams in the competition which is what happened at the auditorium. If judges are helping a particular team, then they should not be allowed to judge when their team is performing to show fairness to everyone. Otherwise it puts other teams at a disadvantage and will destroy the hard work and effort that has been put into the performance by the other groups. On a positive note, it is good to see that our culture is still alive. DON’T CYCLE ON THE FOOTPATHS! I was walking along the footpath on the way to the market on the lagoon side the other day when I nearly got run into by a very fast local cyclist coming at top speed from behind. I then had to move over as several tourist cyclists came towards me on the same footpath. This is happening more regularly than ever before and since the tourist season will be starting in earnest soon, I think signs should be put up to say this is not a cycle track! MURI SPEED LIMIT Early in the first term of government the then police minister (Henry Puna), imposed a speed restriction in the area of Muri. There has been very little by way of enforcement of this restriction (by traffic authorities and little radar or checkpoints). However, the condition of the road throughout Muri/Titikaveka is such that any speeds above the imposed limit would be hugely detrimental to the integrity of any vehicle. STOP TALKING AND DO SOMETHING There is continual rhetoric from the government regarding the condition of Rarotonga’s lagoon waters. However, over the last few years there has been very little actual decision-making as to what remedial works or causes of the problems are required, to correct the unhealthy situation. BIKE SAFETY When school resumes next year, let’s hope the students get a good talking to about the need to take care on the roads when they ride their bicycles. Some elementary knowledge of the road rules and the need for common sense, might be helpful. Doing wheel stands, weaving all over the road and not bothering to look before riding on to busy roads, isn’t conducive to a long life.

Smoke Signals