Opinion

Why no departure forms?

Wednesday 3 February 2016 | Published in Smoke Signals

Can anyone recall the benefit if any, of government abolishing departure forms? In my recent travels, I noted it is still a requirement when departing New Zealand and Australia, so why are we out of step with border control issues? How do we ensure that all tourists have left the island when their holiday is over?

Smoke Signals

A great initiative

Wednesday 3 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Congratulations to Tim Tepaki and company on news of a new airline. What a great initiative on the depopulation issue, and making pa enua travel more affordable.

Letters to the Editor

It was a majority decision

Wednesday 3 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I will ignore all the nasty name calling your correspondent Sholan Ivaiti threw at me in your edition of Saturday the 31st of January. This distorts the picture.

Letters to the Editor

No argument

Wednesday 3 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A great problem in debate is non-specific criticism. Mr Porter seems unhappy with my recent letter about the PAC, but doesn’t really say why.

Letters to the Editor

Please turn Rehab speakers around

Wednesday 3 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor This letter is a plea to both the Liquor License Authority, which also involves the Police, and to Rehab Night Club.

Letters to the Editor

Disgust and disbelief

Wednesday 3 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It was with absolute disgust and disbelief when I read about Mr Iona’s violent action and his treatment by your justice system. Gob smacking and frankly quite frightening to think that a dangerous and brutal thug can do these horrendous and dangerous acts of violence and allowed off virtually scot free, especially given his court appearance last year.

Letters to the Editor

Leniency

Wednesday 3 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The exposure of family violence and violence of any kind has been well documented throughout the media and public meetings etc as being a huge matter of concern for village leaders/elders/families and so forth.

Letters to the Editor

Little control over visitors

Tuesday 2 February 2016 | Published in Smoke Signals

Visitors’ raiding our lagoons has become an issue of late. But with hindsight locals now wonder if the Asian visitor who stayed a year in Aitutaki was up to the same tricks as the couple at the Raina units? Over and above the poaching aspect, surely visitors need visas to stay so long? Tourism has become so focused on raising visitor numbers they don’t seem to recognise that those who stay such long periods have set up residency. And there appears to be little control over them. It’s time to shore up our ‘leaky’ borders.

Smoke Signals

Why has the law changed in respect of occupation rights?

Tuesday 2 February 2016 | Published in Opinion

The concept of occupation rights (simply a right to occupy a designated area of a block of land) was first introduced in the Cook Islands when the Land Court, just after the turn of the 20th century, established the “house sites” that line both sides of the main road in Avarua and in Arorangi.

Opinion

Cuppa on the taxpayer

Monday 1 February 2016 | Published in Smoke Signals

I don’t get it. Why is a workshop on corruption being held for the koutu nui? It’s just an excuse for a cuppa tea at tax payers’ expense. The real corruption is in government, that’s where focus should be.

Smoke Signals

Shouldn't have been photographed

Monday 1 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was disappointed to see a picture that includes faces of young innocent children in the newspaper with the story ‘Tikioki raui broken again’.

Letters to the Editor

Snakes outnumber apples in the 'Crook Islands'

Monday 1 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The continual “who said what” on the Toagate issue is old news. Once again the taxpaying public was duped into paying out millions of dollars due to incompetence, regardless of who and where they were or represented.

Letters to the Editor

Too many big trucks driving on our roads

Monday 1 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am not the first to notice the increased number of pickup trucks on the island which is puzzling due to the number of people complaining they can’t pay their student loans off because they don’t earn enough money here in the Cook Islands, but it seems many can afford a $30,000-plus truck for xmas.

Letters to the Editor

Trees are breeding grounds for mosquitos

Monday 1 February 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Driving along the seaside in town looking out to the ocean reminds you how you live on a tropical island with great views of the lagoon, and then you can’t see because of the ugly yellow leaves of the imported lily plant that keeps being planted by the Raro beautification committee?

Letters to the Editor

Memories of a favourite teacher

Saturday 30 January 2016 | Published in Opinion

Do you remember your favorite teacher?

Opinion

Rugby not the culprit

Saturday 30 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Regarding the CI News story on January 29 regarding the live broadcast of the HSBC World Rugby Wellington 7s.

Letters to the Editor

Payback time at church

Saturday 30 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On our most recent trip to the Cook Islands, we were given the opportunity to pay back to the Cook Islands Community Church where the wonderful pastor, Rev Tereora Viniki, entertains the congregation.

Letters to the Editor