Opinion

Get rid of alien judges

Wednesday 1 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It angered me listening to the Deputy Prime Minister on Thursday and Friday praising the Cook Islands’ self determination. Why are these alien judges or justices still dominating in our court house? Is that self determination? I don’t think so. Didn’t the late Albert Henry fight so hard to get rid of these […]

Backtracking at CISNOC

Wednesday 1 August 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yesterday’s news release with quotes by CEO Dan O’Brien didn’t fool everybody. Mr O’Brien is quoted as being in a voluntary position. Not so. The CEO’s position is a paid position. His attempt at drawing support certainly didn’t fool this writer. He then suggests there was criticism toward his family. That is not […]

CIP = completely incompetent party

Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After noticing that our prime minister was not at the parade to kick off the most important celebrations for the Cook Islands, I thought I had better wake him up to the reality of his reign since he took power. When Henry Puna was sworn in as the PM for Manihiki, the song […]

Kata - July 31, 2012

Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Published in Kata

George hits back

Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Reading the crass Smokey you published yesterday about me and my friend James Beer reflects the fears and panic stricken state of the Leader of the Opposition Wilkie Rasmussen, when he authorised it. No Wilkie, I will not respond in kind, I am a gentleman. Leaders of political parties should not fear challenges […]

Comments 'cheap shot'

Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: ”I for one was not amused by Norman George’s uncalled for vicious swiping insult of Lady Marito Maoate during the late Sir Terepai’s state funeral. A number of people laughed at the jokes and revelations he made about politicians and what they get up to but when he turned on Lady […]

Ball less

Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am always reluctant to respond to anonymous letters to the editor or to Smoke Signals in your newspaper, but your smoke signaller in yesterday’s paper has to be the epitome of ball less. Personal insulting insinuations are easily this person’s highest virtues, critiquing everyone and every idea that ever surfaced from his […]

Olympic paddler's father defends son

Tuesday 31 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read again in Saturday’s paper another fantasy piece on kayaker Josh Utanga from the Bay of Plenty times. For the second time Mr Utanga claims he won a silver medal in the open men’s surf ski event at the Australian titles. As official photographer for Surf Lifesaving Australia for the past 25 […]

Sacked for expressing her views?

Monday 30 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It annoyed me to see that Carmel Beattie had been sacked from her job just because of issues with the tourism board. Didn’t know you could get sacked for expressing your views only to help the future of the Cook Islands’ number one industry. Who has the skills to do a more better […]

Kata - July 30, 2012

Monday 30 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Beware of ATMs

Saturday 28 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last Saturday I made a transaction from the Westpac ATM machine in Avarua. At the end of the transaction no money came out and the machine note said ”funds not available try again later“. On checking my statement on Tuesday night I was very surprised to see the funds had been withdrawn from […]

Kata - July 28, 2012

Saturday 28 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Tax collection costs high?

Saturday 28 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”Wherever Mark Brown [finance minister] got his figures for the withholding tax take, goodness only knows,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”I have had a Westpac Bank account open since November 2011 with an average of $200 in at any one time. Over the course of this time I have received a total of $1.12 in […]

Super system unfair

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am quite amazed that being an MP would require you to be elected for only two terms before being entitled to superannuation for life. On my own calculation with the recent terms of election, these cronies need only eight years of being a Member of Parliament, 20 days’ work per year (if […]

'Pure incompetence'

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is incredible that on the morning of the opening of Te Maeva Nui, the BTIB is asking for sponsorship for the event. What has the previous and new Secretary of Culture been doing for the last 12 months? If they were doing their job properly, sponsorship should have been secured soon after […]

Implement a road levy on vehicles

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yes, I do agree with people and even tourists complaining about the roads around the island. I took a ride around just recently and it is unsafe in most areas. I would have expected the road to be safer to use than before, but no, it is the other way around. I did […]

Kata - July 27, 2012

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Kata

It doesn't make sense

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor, The Cook Islands has an 800 percent harsher maximum sentence for possession of cannabis than New Zealand? That seems excessive. Two years for possessing cannabis? Twenty years for cultivating cannabis? Does the punishment fit the crime? I agree with the writer of Monday’s letter to the editor. This person calls attention to the […]

The best lit hotel on the island

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller asks: ”Can someone please explain why the new Ministry of Education (The Fire Station) is always the best lit hotel on the island every night? Unless you can give a good reason it seems to me as the most stupid and wasteful way to spend money that is supposed to go to […]

The issue of copyright

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Though seemingly creative, the new Telecom NZ ”Kung Fu“ prepaid adverts might be infringing international copyright. Of course I could be wrong, and Telecom may have paid ‘Golden Harvest Company Pictures’, or the estate of Bruce Lee, for the use of his image and their movie. With the profits they make off the […]