Opinion

'I salute you for staying united' – Grey Power

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would personally like to thank our Vice President Dennis Tunui for his contribution in establishing the growth of our Grey Power organisation. He has been in, out, around, and through a lot of activities that have given us a steady footing today, and it’s about time that he takes a breather. Job […]

Kata - December 24, 2013

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Kata

'Mafia style' treatment of pensioners by govt

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is with sadness that the government had withdrawn $3014.20 from my wife’s account without consultation – this is purely a mafia style procedure. I feel sorry for the rest of the NZ-paid pensioners because this Cook Islands Party government, which we supported for a long time since its operation is bankrupt and […]

Deportation: 'Aren't they our cousins?'

Monday 23 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In regards to the Kiribati family featuring in the news a family likely to be deported from New Zealand to Kiribati which is slowly sinking am I mistaken or are they our cousins? Is the Cook Islands being depopulated? Are we so desperate for workers that we are importing them from the other […]

Court censuring Trevor Clarke 'extreme'

Monday 23 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter by Makiongo Ryan in your Friday 20 December 2013 edition headed “The processes were corrupted – Colagate”. I respond as follows: 1. It was good to see your writer was prepared to put name to paper and that’s good. 2. Also good to know he or she is […]

'Not illegal but certainly unethical'

Monday 23 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am confused over Mr Tepaki’s comments in his recent letter (‘An illness called jealousy’ – Colagate, CINews December 17) regarding jealousy over Mr Clarke. Can I point out to Tim, government did not dispense with level on cola packaging to make it a lawful activity as Mr Tepaki claims – this is […]

Government 'misled' people about NZ tax agreement

Monday 23 December 2013 | Published in Tropical Chronicles

Much shame should befall the government and its political leaders. The Prime Minister Henry Puna, his deputy PM Teariki Heather and Minister of Finance Mark Brown should all hang their heads low for lying through their teeth to Grey Power and the people of the country. Grey Power, with much respect to their restraint, had […]

Kata - December 23, 2013

Monday 23 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Related article(s):

Top of the class!

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Runner-up dux for Araura College Puna Mydear Kitai and dux Charlotte Lockington Pera wore proud smiles above their ei’s after receiving the awards at an end-of-year prizegiving this month. The school held the event on Friday December 6 in the Prince Edward Hall attended by parents of all levels – year 7 to 12. Charlotte […]

What a Christmas gift

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

On December 5 my wife received a letter from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFEM) with details of their assessment of $4000 plus of back tax (to be paid by December 4, 2013). In addition there was the threat of legal action should the back tax not be paid “immediately”. On December 12, […]

Arorangi jetty danger 'obvious from the beginning'

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I see from the letter to the editor on Wednesday December 18, and the reply by Bim Tou on December 19, that the Ports Authority is once again telling stories, and playing the game of “shoot the messenger” instead of addressing the problem. The Ports Authority manager’s statements that “the area has always […]

Kata - December 21, 2013

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Duty free a VAT thief?

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in to ask a question about the increase in the personal duty free allowance for arriving passengers, which increases from $250 to $750 on January 1. “Can the Minister of Finance or the opposition please explain why we are giving away a potential value added tax content of $5.5 million (100,000 […]

'Permission for tree felling not granted in 1989' - Scott

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your smoke signaller got it wrong. It was the Conservation Service back then in 1989, by the way, not the National Environment Service, and it never did give us permission to remove the trees which impeded our development. In fact it threw everything in its arsenal at us to prevent their removal. We […]

'The processes were corrupted' - Colagate

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Tim Tepaki’s letter to the editor (‘An illness called jealousy’ – Colagate, CINews December 17): He thinks he can write rubbish to your paper and expect people to believe that it is credible. Charles Pitt writes about Colagate and says that CITC employs Cook Islanders. Who are the managers at […]

Kata - December 19, 2013

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Jetty causing lower tides?

Wednesday 18 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Since the completion of the new jetty at Arorangi School, we have noticed a substantial drop in lagoon sea levels at low tide. Before the jetty, there was lots of sea water in the lagoon, with a few coral heads exposed at low tide. Now, all coral heads are exposed and live coral […]

Where is the water?

Wednesday 18 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to ask the Water Works department why the residents of Turangi Valley (Ngatangiia) have had no water for months, although we must surely be first ’in line’ for it as we are closest to the Turangi water intake (apart from some pig pens further up the valley). We have asked […]

PM rumours are 'utter nonsense'

Wednesday 18 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am usually thick skinned when it comes to gossip that relates to me, but I think something needs to be said about the latest spate of gossip. There are vicious rumours being spread around the island regarding my relationship with my minister, the Prime Minister Henry Puna. These rumours are totally false […]

'Better understanding and empathy' needed on issue of merging schools

Wednesday 18 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I applaud some of the Nikao Maori School parents who spoke their mind opposing the merge with Avatea School. Some harsh and degrading comments were made towards Nikao Maori School at the meeting and I guess the outcome of that meeting was not a surprise. So perhaps a better consultation process should have […]