Opinion

Get rich quick fishing scheme flawed

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last month MMR issued a statement that it hoped ”one day our small scale fishermen can piggy back“ into the deep sea fishery, off the back of companies such as Luen Thai Fishing Ventures Ltd. We have experience in this country on how Cook Islanders can piggy back into an industry on the […]

Scurrilous mischief-making

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I believe a retraction by the Cook Islands News is in order in terms of the story you reported on regarding the Demo Party conference as reported in CINews (August 15). I am open about my friendship with Mr Norman George. But I find it incredulous that your reporting would go as far […]

Sorry about it, says Sky's local agent

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Firstly I wish to acknowledge Cook Island Television and Vaka Television for the coverage of the recent Olympic Games in London, England. Keep up with the good work. Unfortunately for those owning and paying Sky TV more than $700 yearly, sorry you missed out. Why? Poor reception. I have visited the Sky TV […]

Using youth as an excuse is not acceptable

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to chip in my five cents about the police officer who stole NZ$9000 from an active crime scene earlier this year and escaped jail time and got no other punishment than a mild slap on the wrist and some public shame that will last five minutes. It’s unbelievable that she […]

Stray dogs are spoiling Rarotonga

Wednesday 15 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I‘ve been a frequent visitor to your beautiful country since 1992 and feel well qualified to comment on Raro as tourists see it. Spoiling the many lovely aspects of a holiday here right now is the current dog population. Regardless of figures recently quoted of a reduction in the number of ‘wild dogs’, […]

Unhappy with extra burden of new taxes

Wednesday 15 August 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”I applaud Aunty June Baudinet’s letter to the editor on Monday about the Minister of Finance Mark Brown putting extra burden and taxes on our people,“ writes a smoke signaller. ”Where does Mark Brown get his financial advice from? This new, green and inexperienced minister thinks by taxing and increasing prices he will find the […]

Cop crimes not as bad

Wednesday 15 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in relation to some past and present articles in the newspaper about the behaviour of members of our police force. This morning (August 14) I read about an officer stealing from a crime scene more than $5000. Previously I’ve read about police officers crashing their trucks, officers driving while under the […]

Shame on the PM

Tuesday 14 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read in your newspaper the shocking news that the Tongareva people did not depart on Saturday on Lady Naomi due to some political intervention on whose cargo went first on the boat. The PM’s cargo was given as a first priority to go to Manihiki and other Tere Parties missed out on […]

Appalled, disgusted, angry

Tuesday 14 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am appalled, disgusted and angry at the way Henry Puna and Teariki Heather handled and treated my people from the Tongareva and Pukapuka Tere Parties. The unfairness and downgraded attitude towards my people are summed up below: 1. When these Tere Parties were about to depart their individual islands, they were informed […]

Cheap shot at Olympians not appreciated

Tuesday 14 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor You have a regular correspondent in your paper who writes behind various nom-de-plumes, but with the same vitriolic poison, attacking the Olympic team and singling out myself, the Chef de Mission George George and Secretary-general Rosie Blake for personal attacks. In the latest smoke signals column this person is scathing in their attack […]

Was Bainimarama invited?

Tuesday 14 August 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”Here’s a story that’s true,“ a smoke signaller texts to 188: ”A man goes to the main hospital, he’s been struck in the eye from a bug strike and wants medical attention. They shine a light in his eye, see nothing, consult a computer, and prescribe Mylanta for stomach, and one for motion sickness. What’s […]

Tax could damage tourism

Monday 13 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am rather disturbed at the Minister of Finance’s increase in the tax on all drinks, which include soft drinks and alcohol. It is important we recognise the role of the tourism industry in stimulating economic growth and jobs, while avoiding unproductive knee-jerk hikes at a time of economic and financial crisis. Tourism […]

Supporting a worthy cause

Monday 13 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I want to comment on how people have viewed the VIP treatment during the Constitution celebrations. We are not a rich family, nor do we own a business. My husband and I both work hard for our money, and decided that we would help this worthy cause. My family went to the auditorium […]

Long haul flight solution

Monday 13 August 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

After reading Saturday’s smokie ‘Long haul charge’ a smoke signaller writes: ”Air New Zealand Cook Islands manager’s suggestion that ‘Customers are also able to book online for no extra charge’ in response to the extra $100 included in any quote for long haul travel from the local Air New Zealand office, sounds good in theory […]

Conference attendance voted on

Saturday 11 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With reluctance, I write to correct the mis-statement by the Leader of the Opposition about my membership of the Democratic Party being revoked yesterday. First the issue discussed at this special meeting was to decide whether I will be admitted into the Demo caucus pursuant to article 4(e) of the party constitution. Secondly, […]

Clarification of Demo vote

Saturday 11 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write regarding the exactitude of the decision of the meeting of the Democratic Party Executive held on Wednesday night, August 8 2012. The resolution of the meeting did not reject Mr George’s membership of the party. The resolution rejected Mr George’s admission to the conference by 32 to 6 votes in the […]

Overseas trips but no flu jabs

Saturday 11 August 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”So there are no more flu vaccinations in stock at our hospital, but there is plenty of money for our politicians to keep travelling overseas,“ a reader writes in response to Thursday’s front page article ‘Flu vaccinations out of stock’. ”This is absolutely ridiculous and more so when a hospital staff member said that this […]

Kata - August 8, 2012

Wednesday 8 August 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - August 7, 2012

Tuesday 7 August 2012 | Published in Kata