Opinion

Elvis and Apii 'out of tune'

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Elvis Puna and Apii the Meter Man are singing a different song when it comes to renewable energy,” a smoke signaller quips. “While the travelling PM is overseas warbling (unrealistically) 100% green, Te Aponga’s bandleader is out of tune with his 6%. And by hogging all the big installations for himself and government and limiting […]

Govt should take a firm stand

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I clap my hands for the Hon. Winston Peters whose position was reported in your front page story of Saturday’s issue headed ‘Winston Peters backs retirees’. He stated he will be looking into this problem with superannuation and taking it up in the appropriate place, either in the house or at the select […]

Kata - March 6, 2012

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Rock wall design is flawed

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Neither Ports Authority nor the Beca Project Manager has addressed the main points of my letters about the rock wall at Avatiu. Given the faulty materials being used and the distinct dangers that could be presented by this rock wall, there has been no EIA presented by NES for public perusal containing the […]

Kata - March 5, 2012

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Good work with the markets, BTIB

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On Wednesday night I was at the Punanga Nui to see the night market. I was glad to see a big crown turn up, mainly our local people and tourists. The stalls were selling food and crafts. I am pleased to say that the stall owners, our own Cook Islands people, were very […]

Nations can't keep borrowing

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “The wise Chinese philosopher Confucius says ‘man with hand in other man’s pocket not feeling himself today’. Forty years ago that was a terrible giggly school kid joke; now it comes back to mind as a terrible reality worldwide as nations live on credit. Just how long can you have your […]

Kata - March 3, 2012

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Wall an eyesore

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With regards to the Avatiu wharf western side where the boulders are being laid – to me it is an eyesore. Why didn’t the planners think of other options e.g build a seawall similar to that on the eastern side of the wharf restructured recently and turn it into a scenic reserve where […]

Crunch comes, rabbit runs

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read this morning with utter disgust the manner in which the New Zealand government has treated the plight of Vietman war veteran Bill Framhein. Bill is an injured Cook Islander being forced to live only half a year in the Cook Islands and the other half in New Zealand hundreds of miles […]

Go Danny

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Ki te Etita “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that is the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”Philippians 2: 9-11 Kia Orana koe e […]

Air Raro pays $800,000

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Air Rarotonga managing director Ewan Smith responds to questions raised in letters to the editor and Smoke Signals: Recent comments in the Cook Islands News have questioned whether Air Rarotonga receives government subsidies including the use of local airports. Inter-island airline operations do not receive government subsidies. In 2011 Air Rarotonga paid $800,000 for the […]

'Ferry brings hope'

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter by pseudonym writer Another Ex Skipper in your Friday March 2 edition. He obviously has a beef with his previous employer and the current owner of Corsaire and if so, I respectfully suggest he deals with his problem separately and keep it out of our business. That said, […]

Never offended

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is a message for Danny Mataroa: I have attended many of your events, I have listened to many of your prayers. I would like to say, your letter reminded me why we keep coming back to the Cook Islands. You stand up in front of God and Country and publicly state your […]

Insane stupidity

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Without diluting the message in the parable printed previously, I would like to apologise to you and Tim Arnold for using go loco as the pseudonym. The term “loco” is commonly used to represent insane stupidity which is what Henry Puna’s Government is doing. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to […]

Don Dorrell is right about the rocks

Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Responding to letters to the editor over the past few days ‘Avatiu rock wall ‘dangerous’ and ‘Rock wall is in breach of law’ a smoke signaller writes: “Don Dorrell’s expert comments are true about the rock wall at the Avatiu harbour. The key question is, are Bim Tou [Ports Authority general manager] and Mike Henry […]

Kata - March 2, 2012

Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Ferry proposal: another disaster looms

Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The story in the March 1 issue about a ferry service for Aitutaki using a “Corsaire 6000” is a classic example of why a shoemaker should stick to making shoes. The vessel in question was originally built in 1993/4 and launched as the “Emeraude” made for service in the Channel Islands off France. […]

Rock armour slope vindicated

Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to the points raised by Mr Don Dorrell, a beach will generally reflect less wave energy than the proposed rock armour slope. However, the need to create a turning basin in the harbour for the safe and efficient operation of the harbour means that there is no space to maintain the […]

Bring Norman George home

Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

E tama, Aka’oki mai ia ratou tei akaruke ia tatou, ki roto i te koro Demo. E numero tangata tena ka inangaro ia, uatu ta ratou takatakai ia tatou i te au ati’anga i topa. Akakoromaki. Aka’oki mai ia Norman George meia tatou i aka’oki mai ia Jim Marurai e Wilkie Rasmussen tei oro ana […]