Opinion

Kata - March 15, 2013

Friday 15 March 2013 | Published in Kata

Bank lifting its game on services

Friday 15 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to the letter ‘Lift your game’ (March 12) from ‘Frustrated Vehicle Owner’ I am sorry that the vehicle owner reached such a point of frustration and thus felt the need to vent via a letter to the editor.

'Tourism is not the answer'

Friday 15 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with great dismay in CI News that the NZ Aid Programme will focus its donor aid on tourism and tourism-supported infrastructure projects in the Cook Islands.

'An amazing character'

Friday 15 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yet again and very unconciously, NZ’s High Commissioner John Carter has taken the public limelight by showing our tax-funded politicians how to perform their job of providing assistance in the community where it is needed most.

Cook Islanders evicted from state homes

Friday 15 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

A Cook Islands family in New Zealand have been given orders to evacuate their state home.

Old plants, new puffs

Friday 15 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

After reading Wednesday’s front page article ‘Switch off for Earth Hour’ next week, a smoke signaller quipped: “We probably won’t have to switch off at all – Te Aponga seems to be doing that for us in recent days!”

Water project a national folly

Thursday 14 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recently announced Rarotonga water project is to cost $60 million dollars.

JC's a walking 'miracle man'

Thursday 14 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Our John Carter [New Zealand’s High Commissioner] is a walking miracle man,” a smoke signaller writes.

Rich history, ancient culture

Wednesday 13 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In regards to the World Heritage Convention workshop this week in Rarotonga-while the World Heritage workshop may not concern us directly we do have at the Cook Islands Library & Museum Society one of the most extensive early Pacific Islands reference book collections as well as Cook Islands artifacts and we feel we could learn-and contribute-to preserving cultural and heritage sites in the Cook Islands.

'Lift your game'

Wednesday 13 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Having just got back from an interminable and frustrating wait in a queue at the Bank of the Cook Islands, I thought I would raise the question: Why is the public subjected to the unending inefficiency of the Bank of the Cook Islands to deal with vehicle registration? If we are not customers of this bank, then why do we have to join the long lines at the bank and waste hours of our own valuable time just to pay a bill and get a receipt and sticker? Why can’t we go to our own bank, or the Post Office or have an online system (that we can actually activate)? Year after year in March the queues at the BCI move forward in inches over hours.

Direct route for Asian tourists

Wednesday 13 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Nearly two years ago, in July 2011, I wrote to your paper concerning the decision by the Cook Islands not to pursue direct flights from Fiji to the Cook Islands, as well as on the subject of the Air NZ subsidies, etcetera.

Pulled off air

Wednesday 13 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, CITV’s programming leaves a lot to be desired.

Time to take a stand

Wednesday 13 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Nine blurry minutes of video footage leaked to the media this month have sparked global outrage and re-opened a painful discussion about Fiji that hits a nerve for many residents of the Cook Islands.

'Limit food' in luggage

Tuesday 12 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “There’s lots of talk about the tourist numbers and how they spend money while on holiday.

Pukapuka awaits new water tanks

Tuesday 12 March 2013 | Published in Return to Pukapuka

Dr Amelia Hokule’a Borofsky, who grew up in Pukapuka and Hawaii, has returned to the atoll to live, listen, learn and write.

'Aquaponics may be the solution'

Tuesday 12 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to ‘Handout please’ (Learning how to apply for aid, Saturday March 9) what did the economic students to our site ‘learn’? They learnt how to turn a failed business venture into an opportunity; our experiences on how we have taken a more holistic approach to sustainable development; the importance of inclusiveness, community and partnerships to help grow a business, which in turn grows the economy.

'No allowances for playing golf'

Tuesday 12 March 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We have all read confirmation that the PM Henry Puna took one week off for golf.