Opinion

CEO clarifies comments

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just wish to clarify a point mis-reported in your article on page 7 headed ”Meeting highlights mismanagement“ by Matiu Workman. You have me quoted as saying ”That’s absolute nonsense… etc“ under the paragraph describing Graham’s suggestion of the government’s stance not being affected whether Mark Brown was elected or not. I actually […]

We will remember this incompetence

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How much longer do we have to suffer this incompetence and apparent dishonesty from CISNOC? It is a pathetic joke. Meeting after meeting deferred with the reason cited changing from day to day, as recounted by Hugh Graham in your report yesterday. The board is now openly acting in defiance of the majority […]

Invest super money locally

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest in the Cook Islands News (Saturday July 21) that our invested national superannuation funds for 2011 gave us a net return of 2.6% after ”fees and other expenses“ were deducted. The interest rate charged by our local banks for development projects is around 10% (or in most cases higher) […]

Kata - July 26, 2012

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Public paying for chickens?

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaler writes: ”It may look like a humanitarian gesture but the handing out of 15 free cartons of chicken to all the island tere parties by Cabinet ministers shows signs of desperation and could lead to allegations of favoritism. This is the second year that the CIP-led Puna government has done this and […]

Kata - July 25, 2012

Wednesday 25 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Another CIP entitlement?

Wednesday 25 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller asks: ”Why should Mark Brown and entourage go to the London Olympics at all? Is this just because he is Minister for Sport? Is this another one of those CIP (Cook Islands Party) entitlements that go with the job? What nonsense – the money could be better spent elsewhere. And what will […]

Guam is just four years away

Tuesday 24 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s sad to read that the brunt of the blame for non-appearance of a Cook Islands contingent at the Arts Festival is being directed at Tauranga Vananga, the Ministry of Culture. Unfortunately in the current difficult worldwide economic climate and given our limited capital, government has to make difficult decisions as who to […]

Kata - July 24, 2012

Tuesday 24 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Scrutiny required

Tuesday 24 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The question as to the authority to grant these shipping licence approvals, the conditions, obligations and responsibilities associated with them, and the policing of the same, requires scrutiny. In the his haste to favour Tai Moana over the government’s shipping company PFL, the Minister of Transport has unfortunately invoked a provision of the […]

Well done

Monday 23 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last Sunday we were guests in the morning service at the Cook Islands Christian Church just up the road from the Pacific Resort. We were a group of 10 from NZ lucky enough to have had the opportunity to visit your beautiful country and hear the fantastic singing in church. During the service […]

Support Honolulu flight

Monday 23 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in support of the possibility of a Hawaiian Airlines flight between Honolulu and Rarotonga. Given that Hawaiian Airlines will be flying from Auckland to Honolulu, it would be an easy stop-over. The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation would do well to encourage Hawaiian Airlines to make the stop. For people in […]

MPs, your time is up

Monday 23 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I couldn’t agree more with the writer of the article about MPs, taking a pay cut, to lead by example. That is real leadership not saying one thing during the years of opposition and then doing the opposite when the party becomes the government. Secondly cut off the appointing their mates to different […]

BTIB, the future is in your hands

Monday 23 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It really annoyed me when I read in the paper that some health conference spokesperson said that Cook Islanders have really low education. Would this be Cook Islanders living in New Zealand? Can’t be. A lot of organisations in Auckland such as the Pukapuka New Zealand community are purchasing huge 35 storey buildings […]

Does the offence justify the cost?

Monday 23 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’ve just read Saturday’s front-page story about the jail sentences imposed on Operation Eagle defendants. And I have to ask: What are the court’s priorities? People who constitute a threat to society, or people who grow and sell a plant that is, elsewhere in the world, quasi-legal, and for good reason? I read […]

Talk about ambush marketing

Monday 23 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

KEEP the smokies rolling in! Smoke Signals and interesting island photos will be accepted by email (smokesignals@cookislandsnews.com), or text to 188 or a phone call to the newsroom on 22-999.

Rugby's upset win

Friday 20 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: ”When you read the headline of Monday’s back page sports article ‘Upset win to Titikaveka Bulls’ you would think that the article would elaborate more about the game. Instead, in the article there were only two sentences that talked about the game. The article talked more about the Eels vs Panthers […]

Architects should foot VIP lounge bill

Friday 20 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Everyone is aware that the terminal at Rarotonga International Airport is brand new and cost tens of millions of dollars to design and construct. Obviously, the design of the new airport terminal was not only to cater for current tourism loads when it comes to visitor arrivals and departures but, just as important, […]

Blame airport authority for VIP lounge

Friday 20 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The people making negative comments regarding the non-attendance of a Cook Islands delegation at the Pacific Arts Festival due to the lack of funds and the 330K used for the VIP lounge upgrade need to understand why things are the way they are. Firstly, the size and the location of the VIP lounge […]

Absence at festival 'shameful'

Friday 20 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Please feel free to edit my letter, but I am typing this with tears steaming down my face, so I might not be thinking clearly right now. I have just finished reading the documentary written by Alexander Teariki Olah on the Marumaru Atua about the finishing leg of their voyage from Espiritu Santos […]