Opinion

Kata - April 28, 2012

Saturday 28 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - April 27, 2012

Friday 27 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Wake up, MPs!

Friday 27 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The departure tax crisis is certainly hurting our visitors and also our mamas and papas travelling to NZ for medical check-ups. Why don’t the members of parliament whom we elected do something about it and reduce it to at least $35 or $40. Wake up, don’t go to sleep on your salaries! I […]

Major reform and innovation vital

Friday 27 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest about the Minister of Finance Mark Brown looking at the effects of depopulation, expanding the economy etc, and the impact of interest rates. I suggest that unfortunately as much as we would all love lower rates, perhaps that isn’t an option due to the size of the Cooks economy […]

Call for better results from police

Friday 27 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This reader does not know Amelia Borofsky, but I do know mis-handling of justice when I see it though. What on earth is going on here? Every citizen, and visitor, anyone with a valid, legal passport, is entitled to the protection of the law, under our Westminster system, when living in or visiting, […]

Liquor cabinet lock-down looms

Friday 27 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As an employee of one of the retail establishments obliged to comply with the requirements of lockable display units, I would like to know if the Liquor Licensing Authority will be ensuring the conditions apply to all retailers of alcohol who open outside the legal alcohol selling hours. I happened to be in […]

Kata - April 26, 2012

Thursday 26 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Response 'shocking'

Tuesday 24 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing to follow-up on my belongings being stolen on March 14 and the lack of police follow-up. I am so disappointed to find so little being done here in Rarotonga to curb youth crime. The police response (or lack of response) has been shocking. I reported the incident on 14/4 and […]

Stop thrashing life out of our oceans!

Tuesday 24 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This week from Wednesday April 25, Alotau Milne Bay province will play host to the fisheries ministers of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) where they will talk about the future of our tuna fisheries and ways to conserve this precious gift which is being thrashed by greedy foreign fishing companies. Last […]

New cool white street lights 'useless'

Tuesday 24 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“While on the topic of Te Aponga Uira, can someone there tell us, the discerning public, why the street lights are now a cool white colour (which is not very bright at all) and not the warm yellow glow bulbs that used to give more light and softer light to the surrounding areas around the […]

Kata - April 24, 2012

Tuesday 24 April 2012 | Published in Kata

In support of Ngati Raina

Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter in support of June Baudinet getting her family land back. You go girl and get it back. It is your right and it never was theirs. I also would like to ask the Ui Mataiapo of Takitumu to stand with June in this process. This land is not […]

Kata - April 23, 2012

Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in Kata

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Fund a study into local crime

Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Perhaps it is time to find funding for a study into the incredible amount of theft that is taking place on Rarotonga. I am sure an independent study will bring some answers rather than rely on the police or government. It may be found that each and all of us are to blame […]

Boot camp for thieves

Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In regards to trouble with youth stealing and the system not working as punishment – we have seen in the States a form of boot camp. Offenders attend this camp for six months. The camp could be on an outer island or motu. Make it so hard and so miserable that the thought […]

Call that a deal?

Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Watching the Toa tanks being moved, one is left to wonder what drugs the former government was experimenting with when it agreed to pay $5 million for a fuel terminal where the lease was about to run out. The responsible minister’s most recent public remark seems to have been that it […]

Baited breath

Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, From time to time a true gem is found and on this occasion Mr George’s opinion of Taoro Strickland (Brown) is totally correct and one of those gems. I usually find myself writing an opinion at variance to Mr George, but as always the truth prevails in the end and today I say […]

High hopes for Dave Rennie

Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A sports writer is betting that Cook Islander Dave Rennie might one day coach the All Blacks. Rennie is the head coach for Super Rugby New Zealand team the Waikato Chiefs. Mark Reason, a sports journalist for over 25 years, wrote an opinion piece yesterday for Fairfax NZ news titled ‘Chiefs proving the Blues race […]

Kata - April 20, 2012

Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Young athletes rise above criticism

Thursday 19 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Having read your sports news today online, specifically around ‘We want support, not criticism’, I wanted to help people understand the current life of a 17-year-old athlete. Monday to Friday: Start training 5.30am till 8am clocking up over 5km of swimming Attend college start 9am to 3pm, Start work as a qualified swim […]