Opinion
Outweighed
Friday 21 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Okay let’s look at what’s really going here. The government reckons it has done a lot in two years. They got the list to prove it.
Two shipping companies bidding for Reef
Friday 21 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Two international shipping companies are bidding to buy Reef Shipping, which went into receivership due to financial difficulties on November 26. Transport minister Tom Marsters says he has been updated on the latest events related to the liquidation of Reef.
Kata - December 20, 2012
Thursday 20 December 2012 | Published in Kata
PM talks achievements avoids questions December 20
Kids capture Christmas spirit
Thursday 20 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Getting 40 children into the Christmas spirit was the highlight of a free community event nicknamed ‘Christmas in the Courtyard’ on Tuesday for the Eye Place’s Annie Mason. Held at Cooks Corner in Avarua, the event saw children aged between three and 11 have their photo taken with Santa, get their faces painted and tuck into a sausage sizzle.
Sad to hear of CISA getting the chop
Wednesday 19 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I was sad to read in the paper this morning that the CISA programme has been axed by the Ministry of Education.
Stone thrower still at large
Wednesday 19 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I write to express my concern about the lack of mental health services here in the Cook Islands.
Kata - December 19, 2012
Wednesday 19 December 2012 | Published in Kata
CISA funding in "too hard file" December 19
Take care of visitors
Wednesday 19 December 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The beach at Avaavaroa is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen,” a smoke signaller writes. “But passages anywhere are by nature dangerous because of tidal rips. In my opinion the Tourism Corporation should have taken responsibility for the safety of our visitors and signposted all passages with caution signs ages ago. Lots of money goes to enticing visitors to our shores but our duty of care to visitors is lacking. It’s a pity it took a double fatality to get some action and even then the offer to put up signs comes from the New Zealand High Commissioner, not by Tourism, Police, Internal Affairs or even the Cook Islands Investment Corporation. Even local people can forget how dangerous passages can be. I am told Avaavaroa is where two men drowned while fishing.”
Learn lessons from Cyclone Evan
Wednesday 19 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Not in any way trying to criticise the failings of Samoa’s experience after Cyclone Evan, but this government should learn from the lessons learnt in that country by making certain that we are as prepared as much as possible for a big one.
Xmas callout
Tuesday 18 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
The search for the best-decorated Christmas window for Avarua businesses has been extended to Thursday. The CITC-sponsored competition will close on Thursday evening, the same night people will be out and about for late night shopping.
Kata - December 18, 2012
Tuesday 18 December 2012 | Published in Kata
Young fishers dream big December 18
Fishing boats to be monitored
Monday 17 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
A new initiative to monitor illegal fishing practices was announced at a recent regional fishing meeting in the Philippines. All vessels passing through exclusive economic zones of Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission [WCPFC] member countries – including the Cooks – from high sea areas will soon have to switch on vessel monitoring systems (VMS).
Omissions of rules a serious breach
Monday 17 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I do not want this letter to be interpreted as an attack on the Government nor on the Minister but rather to highlight how easy it is to drift into complacency and why MPs generally need to make an effort to be better informed so they can perform their role more effectively.
Plan query
Monday 17 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I got a message from a friend in NZ recently that read:
Kata - December 17, 2012
Monday 17 December 2012 | Published in Kata
PM performs in South Africa December 17
Sokattak wins knockout shootout
Monday 17 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
In the premier men’s knockout finals on Saturday Nikao Sokattak defeated Tupapa Maraerenga in a penalty shootout three goals to two after the score was locked at one all at full time. The match lived up to the predicted excitement and thrills right from the start until the final whistle.
Long ear of the law
Monday 17 December 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller emails us from New Zealand: “Hi, I spotted this on [social networking site] Twitter under ‘This is why New Zealand police need to recruit more people with an understanding of different languages and cultures’.” The Twitter post provided a link to the original posting (see image) and discussion on the equally powerful social networking site Facebook, where there was lively discussion on the topic and plenty of thumbs up. Some making comments doubted the existence of a language called Cook Islands Maori and a number of Cook Islanders jumped in to set the record straight. If the original Facebook posting is genuine, the police callout in New Zealand was unfortunately for a case of domestic violence in a Cook Islands family.
Kata - December 15, 2012
Saturday 15 December 2012 | Published in Kata
Government being held ransom by Triad and Toa December 15
Arson charges
Saturday 15 December 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller texts to 188: “On the subject of arson, if they catch the idiot/idiots the police should lay charges of attempted murder in all cases of each house burnt down.”
MP Napa defends dismissed HoM
Friday 14 December 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I feel compelled to speak out about the very public dismissal of Donye Numa, Secretary of MOIP.
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