Opinion

Maggie: standing up for the people

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Congratulations to the Tupapa MP George Maggie Angene for standing up and risking his own neck in support of the CIIC workers who were laid off work,” a smoke signaller writes in response to Friday’s front page article ‘George Maggie breaks rank’. “This is the spirit of the kind of MP we all want, standing […]

Kata - September 8, 2012

Saturday 8 September 2012 | Published in Kata

We all need better pay to stay

Saturday 8 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The government has increased the prices to nearly everything here in Rarotonga,” a smoke signaller writes. “Why don’t we all stand up and strike for a rise on the minimum wages so we can afford to stay on our island instead of relocating to New Zealand or Australia? Pay rise for all, just saying.” A […]

Kata - September 7, 2012

Friday 7 September 2012 | Published in Kata

What's the Forum booze bill?

Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

A smoke signaller writes: “Now that the Forum is finally over, could the government show the taxpayers of this country the final booze and food bill paid to entertain all the overseas and local guests who lavished every night here and in Aitutaki. Looking at Monday’s front page photo ‘Forum dance off’ shows that most […]

Be the paradise we are proud of

Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a crew member aboard Vaka Marumaru Atua, I have seen and experienced terrible crimes against nature as we voyaged across our Pacific Ocean carrying our Cook Islands legacy. Manmade plastics and pollution choking our oceans; unsustainable and indiscriminate fishing pillaging our sea stocks; cruel and wasteful shark finning….and worst of all….we have […]

'Slack' hospital service answered

Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After becoming ill with chest pains in the early hours of the morning was unable to contact 999 hospital ambulance, due to the network being down between 1am to 5am. My husband had to go and borrow a car. After arriving at hospital reception, managed to locate a nurse after five phone calls […]

Salute to America

Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As an New Zealand ex-merchant seaman I wish to sincerely thank the Cook Islands RSA for hosting a Merchant Navy Day commemoration service on September 3. Thirty-five people attended, mostly ex-servicemen. Unfortunately a local ex-Russian convoy seafarer Bob Sells could not attend owing to ill health. There was a very interesting group at […]

Government riding on Demo projects

Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The reaction by the Minister of Finance by labeling my comments about his Government borrowing $32 million from the Chinese Government as “emotional outburst” is somewhat smug. My comments were not against the water project as he said but I was seeking clarification as to the details of the loan that this country […]

George slags editor and cartoonist

Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write to reply to the anonymous letter writer under the pseudonym ‘100% disgusted’ in yesterday’s newspaper, because of his cowardice, I shall simply refer to him as “Mr Bum”. For Mr Bum’s information, I have had $82,000 cash taken off me last year by the Tax Department, I have $209 deducted from […]

Kata - September 6, 2012

Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Kata

George slanders CIP Cabinet

Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is an open letter to Minister Nandi Glassie and the CIP Cabinet:

Forum dance 'porno kind of exhibition'

Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia Orana! I salute and raise my hat to sincerely congratulate our Honorable Prime Minister Henry Puna and Mrs Puna, our Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters and Mrs Marsters, all our Cabinet Ministers.

Pay every cent

Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How low can anyone go? I am speaking about that so-called people’s representative from Atiu who has failed to furnish his tax returns let alone pay taxes for a number of years. Unbelievable that this guy not only has the audacity to stand as an MP but, worse still, criticise successive governments over the years for the delivery of poor services when, at the same time, he has not given a dime himself to the public coffers in terms of paying his due taxes. What a complete hypocrite!

Don't forget the Toa 'noose'

Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, While the Leader of the Opposition has a point that any new Chinese loan needs to be transparent, at least the loan will be for something worthwhile – clean water.

We will return

Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After a short stay of four days on your beautiful islands, we have bussed the island and taken a safari trip to the mountains, swum in the sea and eaten well in your restaurants.

Kata - September 5, 2012

Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Looking after your own, not yourself

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “The Cook Islands and other Pacific nations are in a unique but potentially very profitable ‘meat-in-the-sandwich’ scenario between the competing regional interests of the USA and China – with both being played off against each other by various small Pacific nations intent on scoring hundreds of millions of dollars in hand-outs […]

Media circus

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just a quick note on last week’s media circus. Bouquet to the local media for their professionalism, patience, and humility, and to our foreign colleagues, perhaps a lesson in the above. William Framhein Matariki FM

They stayed!

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In recent weeks, I have been reading and following news items on public individuals and the fair share of public letters criticising the ministers, HOMS and public employees. Most recently, the headlines surrounding the police commissioner and minister over tax matters. It is important to note that these individuals are NZ qualified and […]