Opinion

Obey the rules or 'see you later'

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent granting of more Chinese fishing licenses with the prospect of even more being issued soon, coupled with increasing public concern over the sustainability of stocks and shark finning activities, raise the need for MMR and the minister to respond to at least two of the major issues at issue regarding licensing. […]

No access to a CT scanner

Monday 25 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Have just opened the world news section of your newspaper, and am looking at the horrific X-ray image of the spear embedded in the head of the US teenager after a spear gun accident in a fishing trip in Florida. Doctors had to cut part of the spear off before they could fit […]

Keep it up, Fitness Cook Islands

Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My partner and I are from Cairns, Australia and were in the Cook Islands for over a month in March. I used the gym quite a lot and, well, we thought we can’t just be on holiday and indulge on the good island food (oh, yes, the markets were excellent). Monday morning on […]

How stupid we have become!

Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your reports and letters regarding disciplining children have recently been doing the email rounds here in OZ! Many a true word spoken in jest? 1957 vs 2012 Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fight after school. 1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. […]

How many sharks were killed?

Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Responding to Thursday’s front page story ‘Vessel caught with shark fins’ and on page 6 ‘Three tonnes of shark fins allegedly found’, a smoke signaller asks three questions: ”Just how many sharks would have been killed to produce 3,000 kg of shark fins? What is the maximum fine that can be imposed on the offenders? […]

Kata - June 22, 2012

Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in Kata

Only hope is moving overseas

Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last night on One News there was a news item relating to the reduction in fuel prices in NZ with the cost of diesel to drop to $1.46 per litre. Seeing that the cost of the same product in this country is currently at least $2.50 per litre, I would like to know […]

Muri road needs attention

Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I can see reason for the need to improve the state of the road in Avarua but surely the terrible state of the road in Muri, the so-called jewel in the crown when it comes to the country’s tourism industry, warrants urgent improvement? If anything, when talking about the tourism industry, Muri beach […]

Encouragement for the executive

Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After reading of the plight of the Pukapuka Community of NZ Inc, I wanted to write some words of encouragement to the executive of the group. According to the NZ Herald report, the community has already sold off two properties to pay their debts and are planning to sell two more. My advice […]

Go local, help local

Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”Looks like the Business Trade and Investment Board is extending their services,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”In Monday’s article headed ‘Annual filing due’ for foreign enterprises they state: ‘It’s about being able to monitor the business’s finances and find out whether they’re doing well or not so we can help them.’ I’m wondering what kind […]

Kata - June 20, 2012

Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Kata

$194,000 for Vaimaru water

Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Responding to Kata’s cartoon in Monday’s Cook Islands News concerning the water situation in Arenikau, Aitutaki, it is correct that in recent times the town water supply has been consistently turned off for periods of time to domestic home uses. Sometimes the water supply had been cut off for several days at a […]

$44m in aid for next 12 months

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

About $44 million in official development assistance funds will be spent during this financial year. That figure includes unspent funds of about $15m rolling over from last year’s Budget. Of the $44m, $16.6m is going toward water and sanitation – this represents the biggest component of overseas development assistance (ODA) – and $7.2 million toward […]

'Silly questions' answered

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Minister of agriculture Nandi Glassie has accused the Opposition of asking ”silly questions“ about agriculture. Responding to a challenge to the government from Mitiaro MP Tangata Vavia to invest ”millions“ in agriculture, Glassie said the available acreage on the outer islands does not warrant an investment of that magnitude. Vavia had challenged the government to […]

Which way Thursday?

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”Is the Hon. Norman George really that smart?“ a smoke signaller asks. ”If he really thinks that he can continue to outsmart the highest authority of this country and avoid the confidence vote in the budget every Parliament sitting, then we dare him to cast his five votes in the right place in the upcoming […]

Kata - June 18, 2012

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Kata

Marurai and Toka going to Perth

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can I make a correction please? The two Members of Parliament from the Opposition side travelling to West Australia are the former Prime Minister Jim Marurai and Rakahanga MP Taunga Toka. Their names were recommended by the Opposition caucus to the Clerk of our Parliament just under two weeks ago. I, as the […]

We should protect all sharks

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to express my concerns regarding the meeting that was held last week by MMR about shark conservation. As one of the 15 that attended, the message that I got from this was that it was okay to catch some shark species. Personally I think this is garbage. As someone whose […]

Vaine roiroi kore e te maroiroi

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Kit e Etita, Tata atu au i te oronga atu i ta matou akameitaki anga ta te au metuavaine o Ngatiarua e tei akakorona ia ki te kana tunu mori te ka tae mai, tei turuturu ia mai e te ona tauturu CIS, tei oora ia mai e ta ratou tamaine angaanga koia a Vanesa. […]

Charters more valuable than harpooning

Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Many of your readers I am sure would like to see a picture of ‘Tamariki Kuki Airani’s’ grandfather harpooning fish from his vaka, if only to remind of bygone days when fish were plentiful. I recall during my childhood, the then common practice of stalking and the spearing of fish from the beach […]