Opinion

Outrage at $20

Saturday 12 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As one of the supporters of the International dancing competition 2012, I find it embarrassing to read in the newspaper on Thursday May 10 that the cover charges for the event was $5 and $10 only to be told at the door that $20 is the cover charge and not what has been […]

'Keep alcohol out of schools'

Saturday 12 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I saw in the paper a Liquor Licence request by fundraisers on behalf of a prestigious school. I thought no way, have they exhausted all other means of fund raising they had to resort to alcohol inclusion. What kind of message are we conveying to our children – alcohol is good because it […]

Kata - May 11, 2012

Friday 11 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Where are stakeholders in HOM choices?

Friday 11 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writing about the selection panel for heads of ministry positions asks: ”If the economy is being driven by the private sector, why does the selection have all ex public servants on it? Where is the Chamber of Commerce? Where are the stakeholders? Or is this just the continuation of the downward spiral […]

Kata - May 10, 2012

Thursday 10 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - May 9, 2012

Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Apology for polluting air

Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am replying to yesterday’s Smoke Signal showing a photo of one of our buses and referring to it as a ‘smoking bus’. You do say at the bottom of your Smoke Signals for readers to Smokies rolling in! One way of doing it with real smoke: The driver of bus #10, Eddie […]

Pork loin painting 'a disgrace'

Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing on behalf of many Cook Islanders who feel that the publishing of the supposed art piece depicting Mr Bergman in his entirety a disgrace to our heritage, culture and people. To the point, it is rather sad that this is considered art and is endorsed by the people who consider […]

Kata - May 8, 2012

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Privy Council may not be the right avenue

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am fascinated with the issues raised in the land cases that were heard by the Privy Council Judicial Committee in London. The fascination is not only with the land cases themselves which are concerned with very important issues of land and rights to title of land but also whether in fact the […]

Appalled

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a regular visitor to Rarotonga for the past nine years, I am appalled that the government is contemplating an increase in the departure tax. I have done some investigation and it is apparent that Rarotonga is the highest in the South Pacific. Refer the following from the cheapest to the most expensive […]

Disappointed

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m writing this letter to show my concern and disappointment with the attitude of the leaders within the Tupapa Maraerenga village towards the Tupapa Maraerenga soccer team. This team is currently overseas representing the Cook Islands and carrying the name of Tupapa Maraerenga but with no acknowledgement not even a small kaikai before […]

Practise what you preach?

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A choked signaller writes: “I couldn’t believe my eyes – after the plumes of diesel smoke cleared – that the smoking bus was carrying an environment message! Ok, I know it says recycling, but it’s an environmental message none the less which includes air pollution. At one point when the bus was increasing in speed […]

Kata is tamer

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It would be interesting to know which society “Goose” belongs to, as it obviously isn’t one which allows freedom of speech and to express one’s ideas, a right we enjoy in the Cook Islands including Kata. Goose doesn’t have to look too far to see politicians – MPs, PMs and Presidents – being […]

Kata - May 7, 2012

Monday 7 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Not amused

Monday 7 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, KATA’S constant mockery of Cook Islands Prime Minister Hon. Henry Puna via his cartoon column is no longer amusing to me. There was a time when we had a giggle and shrugged it off but this continuous badgering of our nation’s leader is insulting, degrading and demeaning. In another corner of the world […]

Wonderful

Monday 7 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Isn’t it wonderful that the climate change people are working on the Mangaia harbour. (reference many adverts on radio and TV). This is clearly an overseas funded project. So we can pull our workers, overseers, and engineers off the job and leave them to it. The sky is the limit when you think […]

Thanks, George

Monday 7 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to offer my acknowledgement to our member of parliament George Maggie for the wonderful activities he has done so far in our village of Tupapa and Maraerenga. Now we have a new water system installed and everyone is more than happy to utilise it. Thank you also to the NZ High […]

Let's see Govt travel reports

Monday 7 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“There have been many complaints about how the present government, its ministers, public servants, etc, are not performing,” a smoke signaller writes. “Far too many trips overseas, far too many public servants who do nothing, far too many overpaid consultants, too little REAL action, but lots of tuatua [talk]. Whatever happened to reports of trips […]

Saddened

Saturday 5 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As I prepare to leave the Cook Islands, I am saddened by my time in Rarotonga. I fell in love again with Pukapuka, but am left disappointed by my experience here. As I wrote in previous letters, a lot of my valuable belongings were stolen by an identifiable suspect. After three weeks of […]