Opinion

'Get rid of Mr Neves' – Grey Power

Tuesday 5 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Our Grey Power meeting with Prime Minister Henry Puna on Friday November 1 at his office at Te Atukura was blessed with a brilliant morning and the presence of around 80 enthusiastic members in their blue and grey T-shirt. We draped rauti in respect of the ground and our host. I rendered an […]

'I demand justice to prevail'

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, I am very concerned about certain senior government employees misusing my money, my property and my stocks and so on. I demand justice to prevail. The arrogance of these senior government employees who think that they are above the law. Enough is enough and I cannot be silent anymore.

'What happened to election promises?'

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Excessive business class travels and taxation seem to be this government’s main focus. Whatever happened to the many election promises to improve the standard of living, reduce the burden to taxpayers and create jobs through the private sector. We don’t want more loans; we want more jobs so our people will stay. Leadership […]

Good news from the outer islands

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Good to see news coming in from the outer islands, especially from Mauke and the Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae’s recent visit there. It was also good to know of the governor general’s visit to Marae Rakuipo (Kai manga in Mauke, Friday October 25), and to know his family links to us. However, […]

Kata - November 2, 2013

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Kata

'Doing a great job to raise awareness'

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just hope that a fair compromise eventuates regarding NZ and Aussie pensions being taxed when returning back to the Cook Islands to work or retire. That is what I am planning to do when my children are capable of fending for themselves. I’m a NZ born Cook Islander who was educated at […]

Silence on the stench

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Why am I not surprised that on the one hand the owner of Scott’s Farm is awfully silent when it comes to addressing the horrible stench permeating from his chicken farm, which has undoubtedly affected the quality of life for countless of folks who have been subjected to the smell over many decades, […]

'I'll go to jail rather than pay'

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Recently I received a threatening letter from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) that if my wife and I did not file our NZ Pension tax form we will be prosecuted. This is utterly absurd. We (Grey Power) have spoken to the Minister of Finance a few times previously without luck. […]

'MMR, something doesn't sound right'

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is something that doesn’t sound right to me about the MMR secretary’s continuous presentation of his ‘facts’ to the public. It raises in my mind several questions: 1. How does he arrive at these facts and figures, as I recall the old adage, “if you say something enough times, it becomes established […]

Kata - November 1, 2013

Friday 1 November 2013 | Published in Kata

Related article(s): Company must stop Te Mato Vai work: Pitt

'Not so fast' on intake land

Friday 1 November 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The government is ready to start the upgrade of our water system which will be distributed on a user-pay system,” a smoke signaller notes. “There are a few stumbling blocks to their grandiose plans. One is the little matter that landowners of the 12 water intakes have not been consulted. There is no guarantee the […]

Rugby league or fire victims

Friday 1 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Everybody in this God-given country of ours should know now that there is no bigger fan of rugby league than the Minister of Finance Mark Brown. I thought I had greater passion for the game than him but he beats us all hands down. Right now, he is in England, cheering on our team Cook […]

'Save our fish for the future'

Friday 1 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) consultations haven’t made it to Mauke yet we follow discussions via the news. What we’re reading worries us as it appears we have a little battle going on with some general public being swayed one way and then the other with each wave of information. Two sides […]

I never really thought about how much damage one match could do'

Friday 1 November 2013 | Published in Raro on my mind

The boy looks like an average teenager – clean-cut, agreeable countenance, dressed in a ribbed black shirt. He turns to face the camera, and he begins to tell his story. “Hi, my name is Sean,” he says, “and when I was 15 years old I set my high school on fire.” And so begins an […]

Kata - October 31, 2013

Thursday 31 October 2013 | Published in Kata

'It's all here in the Cook Islands'

Thursday 31 October 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Again, thank you Tepaki for your comments and support. You must be related to Kata who is having a field day with his cartoons. FYI Kata, Little Polynesian is going five-star 2014 so don’t think I will be riding in your three-star car with the others! Let’s go back and see where we […]

'Generating even more questions'

Wednesday 30 October 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is two weeks now since the Financial Secretary assured your readers that he would respond in separate letters to the several issues I raised on October 10 (Explain proposed tax reforms).

Front up to the local fishers

Wednesday 30 October 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last week the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) scheduled a meeting with representatives of the fishing clubs to discuss purse seine fishing.

Kata - October 30, 2013

Wednesday 30 October 2013 | Published in Kata

Play league or grow nita?

Wednesday 30 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Bingo!!” shouts a smoke signaller.