Opinion

Police make the decisions

Wednesday 8 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,The statement by Tiria Rere that "the committee can only put dogs down on the advice of Esther Honey" is inaccurate.

Letters to the Editor

'All rentals are up to date'

Wednesday 8 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,I would like to take the opportunity to respond to the letter in your paper from Kimiia Dean in relation to two leases held by The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa on sections at Onemaru, Arorangi.

Letters to the Editor

You first and I'll follow?

Wednesday 8 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,Your letter writer -What an egg-Te iu- does not escape detection by using a pseudonym.

Letters to the Editor

'We believe it when we see the money!'

Wednesday 8 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,I was alarmed at Minister Mark Brown’s quote in the newspaper on Friday October 3 – ‘Next year, we are expecting a big year to celebrate our 50 years, therefore I would expect a number of competing priorities for Government funding’.

Letters to the Editor

Find solutions,don't criticize

Tuesday 7 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,I write to give my support to the Police Commissioner on his statement regarding roaming dogs dated Wednesday October 1.

Letters to the Editor

'God does intervene if asked'

Tuesday 7 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,I respond to the letter of Saturday 4 October 2014 by the tupapaku calling himself Good God, headed “God works in mysterious ways”...

Letters to the Editor

Where is your'go local' spirit?

Tuesday 7 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,How many times do we have to listen to John Scott moan and groan about government not protecting his own personal empire of eggs

Letters to the Editor

Without the bonefish it's another pacific island

Tuesday 7 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

After three trips in the past year I find it ironic that Aitutaki is promoted as a world class fishery for bonefish yet evidence of netting is so prolific.

Letters to the Editor

'Some moral compasses are way out of whack'

Tuesday 7 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,My eyebrows raised more than little when I read Amelia Borofsky's account of turtle killing in the northern islands-in this case Pukapuka.

Letters to the Editor

BITB a weapon of mass destruction?

Monday 6 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,I read with a great deal of empathy Bill Doherty's letter in Saturday's paper.

Letters to the Editor

'Clearly the answer is to reduce the number of seats'

Saturday 4 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,In 49 years of our existence since almost Independence, how far have we really advanced as a nation?

Letters to the Editor

Clean up and lead by example

Saturday 4 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,This is a call out to Sam Napa and Pa Ariki.

Letters to the Editor

God works in mysterious ways?

Saturday 4 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,Freedom of expression is a wonderful thing but one wonders how many more times we are going to have to bear Tim Tepaki tell us that such matters as the elections in the Cook Islands are in God's hands.

Letters to the Editor

Rarotongan run-around?

Saturday 4 October 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,I see in Friday’s paper that Tata Crocombe is selling up and telling landowners where he has leases there is nothing to worry about.

Letters to the Editor

Kai wonu – feasting on turtle a new experience

Saturday 4 October 2014 | Published in Return to Pukapuka

The ENTIRE northern group of Pukapuka, Nassau, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Palmerston and Penrhyn eats turtle.

Return to Pukapuka

Eco warriors stash the trash!

Saturday 4 October 2014 | Published in Virtues in Paradise

Eco warriors stash the trash! Calling all eco warriors! It’s time to stash the trash! Have you noticed that here in Paradise, sometimes it looks clean and pristine (probably after a village clean-up) and other times, it looks like it’s turning into a rubbish dump? I have always admired the faithful way people continually rake their rubbish, whatever falls from the trees or lands in their yards. Yet, others are so careless of these islands -- jewels of beauty the Lord has placed in the Pacific. I taught my children never to litter. One time, we were speeding along a busy highway in the U.S. One of my sons tossed a gum wrapper out the window, and I pulled over and backed the car up to pick it up. I told them, “Never, ever litter. We are stewards of God’s beautiful earth. We have to take care of it.” Recently, I’ve been growling to myself about the amount of trash casually tossed from bikes or cars onto the verges, especially after Friday and Saturday nights, when people tend to go to the bars. Not one to stand idly by, I invested six dollars in an excellent “grabby thing” at a pharmacy overseas. Early one morning, I decided to try out my new toy, I mean tool. I set out with a large green eco-friendly bag (available at Vonnias, CITC and free from the Aitutaki Conservation Trust) and started grabbing paper, glass and plastic rubbish. I was thinking, “I probably won’t find much, so I’ll use the bag again tomorrow.” How wrong could I be? By the time I was finished clearing a small section of road, the bag was chock full of drinks cans, beer bottles, plastic cups, ice containers, straws, candy wrappers, plastic bags, and to top it off, a huge piece of Styrofoam. I felt like crying. How can anyone not appreciate this God-given beauty which we share with tourists who bike and drive along our roads? They gaze at the sparkling sea, luxuriating in one of the rare places on earth where natural beauty is still un-marred by high rises or too many man-made things. Does their bubble of bliss pop when they glance down to see trash lining the roadways? One of the first things that delighted me when we first arrived was the recycling initiative. Bins for rubbish, and recycling are all over. How blessed we are to have this program! And bless the eco-warriors putting huge effort into the recent clean-up initiatives both on land and under water, including those from our primary schools! “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” (Leviticus 15) A Scottish proverb says, “If each before his own door swept, the village would soon be clean.” Here are ways to take on this sacred task: 1. Stop before you drop! Stop and think before you throw anything on the road. 2. Stash your trash! Carry a plastic bag for rubbish, or put it in your pocket and wait till you can toss it in a bin. 3. Do your bit. When you see rubbish on the beach or the road, clean it up. Do it as a service to the One Who created these beautiful islands. 4. Pass it on: Don’t just stand by and watch others litter. Remind them to be responsible. If every one of us does our part, we will soon have a land and seascape that is pristine and sparkling clean, a Paradise to be proud of. Calling all eco-warriors. Let’s stash that trash!Fun, food galore at school galaIT SEEMED like the entire island turned out to make the most of the food, fun and wicked prizes at the Apii Te Uki Ou Gala yesterday afternoon.Families and school supporters were out in numbers to support the schools fundraiser and to enjoy the fantastic festival atmosphere.The beautiful food, bargains, creative arts and crafts as well as the fantastic prizes including dinner vouchers also had something to do with the crowd numbers at the school.While the adults shopped up a storm, youngsters made the most of the fun activities including the horizontal bungy, sponge throwing and the favourite among the smaller kids – rides on the fire truck.There’s no doubt the day was a success for the school and parents who worked hard to provide products for the day and to man the numerous stalls and activities on offer.