Opinion

'Sell 4WDs' to cover back tax

Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Government should just sell off one or maybe two of their flash government 4×4 vehicles that they brought with taxpayers’ money to cover the back tax on the pensioners,” a smoke signaller texts to 188. “Do all secretaries need a government owned vehicle when most already own a vehicle themselves? These GA vehicles already have […]

Kata - December 5, 2013

Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Kata - December 4, 2013

Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Nikao Maori say 'no' to merging schools

Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Currently there has been talk about a new school to be built and two schools to merge, which is Nikao and Avatea. Now I know Nikao Maori School have had their meeting with parents and committee members and the outcome was Nikao have said "No". What about the sweats from parents and grandparents […]

Constitutional intervention should be avoided - Toagate

Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the recent revival in your columns of the Toagate issue (14 and 15 November 2013) and again today and wish to remind your readers that your paper threw an invitation out there (December 22, 2012) for ideas on how the Toagate problem could be solved. I responded to this invitation […]

Tax law has 'caught up' with pensioner - Stoddart

Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The story by Don Reid reported by CINews on November 28 is hearsay. Reid’s recollection of his questions to me and my answers are quite different to mine. First, it was not seven years ago he approached me. It was around three years ago when he interrupted one of my morning runs roadside […]

'Issue a new writ' for parliament

Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have no wish to frustrate the workings of parliament but they have to get it right! If we cannot have faith in parliament doing things properly, what chance is there of government functioning properly – after all, the functions of parliament are mostly a reflection of government initiatives. The calling together of […]

Christianity not so peacefull

Tuesday 3 December 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “As a follow-up to Saturday’s Smoke Signal regarding the invasion of Christianity into the North American Indian communities, Dan George (1899-1981), a Canadian native chief said: “When the white man came we had the land and they had the bibles; now they have the land and we have the bibles.” It […]

Support for Muri markets

Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the ‘local’ businesses who are upset about the Muri Market – grow up. If the complainers are local business owners, are you saying that those entrepreneurs who operate on a shoe-string are not welcome in Muri? Shall they pack up and join the cousins on the dole in New Zealand? Local owners, […]

A tax increase

Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Someone sent me the Richard Neeves email about the tax increases from next year. He has confirmed they are mostly a 2% increase in VAT, 15% increase in tax on the interest in the bank, and now tax on all pensions. That is 3 tax increases to 1 tax decrease of the paye […]

Pa Enua solar delay 'unavoidable'

Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your nameless letter writer of November 28, 2013 on issues related to renewable energy projects has a number of gripes, which need clarification since the newspaper article was not enough to satisfy what are obviously bruised feelings. In terms of government’s renewable energy programme in the northern group, the initial process utilised to […]

Fair treatment and trading in the Cook Islands

Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a former food importer for 30 years, and in light of recent events I am compelled to write my comments on Colagate. I would be doing my former company, its shareholders, and the consumers of the Cook Islands who supported that business a disservice, by sitting idle without comment. There are varying […]

Kata - December 2, 2013

Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Related article(s): Support for Muri markets

Not just a mama and papa market

Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I have to share the concerns of the Muri businesses that are affected by the Thursday night Muri markets,” a smoke signaller writes in response to Thursday’s page 7 article. “When you see the Muri Night Markets advertising on national television, they move from the realm of ‘mama and papa just selling food to make […]

Pa Enua tax consultations not 'in their language'

Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Vaine Wichman has worked throughout the Pacific as a development economist. She began writing these columns at the request of women and men asking her to explain the working of their economy. I had the good fortune of being on a Pa Enua again, work relating to the Mitiaro mama’s and their maire, the Nukuroa […]

Out of the sunrise

Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

If you know anything about the migratory history of the Maori people you shouldn’t be surprised to find that even today, Maori are still traveling around the globe and turning up in strange places. They’re really just – figuratively – following in the footsteps of our ancient tipuna, the Austronesians, who originated in China and […]

Muri market keeps businesses 'on their toes'

Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I completely understand the reasons behind the business owners’ concerns about the night market in Muri. It is always hard having a business in a small area where there is such stiff competition, especially in such a popular tourist spot like Muri – but that’s what keeps owners on their toes. Hospitality is […]

Kata - November 30, 2013

Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Kata

Remembering to practise gratitude

Friday 29 November 2013 | Published in Raro on my mind

Yesterday, America celebrated Thanksgiving. The occasion has little bearing on the rest of the world (aside from triggering a spike in commercial activity, which of course has global implications), but the meaning behind it is universally relevant and internationally important. Thanksgiving is a day for reflecting, appreciating, and counting blessings – things that we, all […]

Public invited to attend graduation ceremony

Friday 29 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

The first graduating class of the youth leadership course invites members of the public to their graduation day today at 10am at the police headquarters. Thirty one young men aged 13 to 20 will be celebrating the successful completion of a three-week rigorous military-style programme aimed to develop their leadership and organisational skills. The graduation […]