Opinion

'No job losses' sure to be bunkum

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Navy Epati should be promoted from Public Service Commissioner to head of the Prime Minister’s Office so that he can dictate everything,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s lead CINews article ‘We are not in a crisis’. “His blather in Friday’s media statement about the Public Sector functional review is the sort of […]

Netball meeting criticism is 'hogwash'

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A thoughtless and gutless someone, who seemingly may have the capacity to momentarily transform from a ‘she’ to a ‘he’, depending on CINews’s ethical standards to accept misleading persuasions, used the Smoke-Signals column to assassinate a simple, peaceful, netball-meeting at Parliament (edition of February 9). What’s the big deal in pushing this into […]

Bashed by own

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Our hearts go out to the Aitutakians, players, coaches, supporters, sponors, etc. What is the CIRL doing? Do they contribute anything? Haven’t they learnt from previous experiences. The NZRL pulling out of the test game that never happened last year and then jumping up and down about it, they then turn around and […]

Give Sharks a go

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m writing about the article that came in the paper yesterday with regards to the Cook Islands League Association deciding to ‘exclude’ the Aitutaki Sharks out of the competition this year due to high expenses. To think of it, Aitutaki is doing the most spending to come over to Rarotonga and play the […]

Kata - February 11, 2012

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Kata

More heading for Perth

Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I’m totally with what Jason Tini was saying in the paper a couple of weeks ago about him and his family moving to Perth,” a smoke signaller writes. “I was a staunch Cook Islands Party supporter but now I’ve given up with all the lies and bullshit. I’m relocating my family of seven to Aussie. […]

Kata - February 9, 2012

Thursday 9 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Too many scientists

Thursday 9 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, According to what I have read in the Cook Islands News dated February 7, it seems the Cook Islands Government is in the process of creating five new consultancy jobs at the PSC. What for? I have previously mentioned in the newspaper the government structure is well over staffed which is costing the […]

It's a 'farcical situation'

Thursday 9 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If nothing else, the recent Public Health survey of Muri residents has established that a nuisance has been created by Scotts Farm. On 8th February, Cook Islands News reported that nearly 80% of survey respondents were ”bothered“ by the odours and Dr Fariu is quoted as saying, ”it’s a nuisance but not health […]

Holds water

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My attention was drawn to Mr Piakura’s letter because it holds water in abundance. The manupulation of genealogy has been an ongoing practice for yonks since the introduction of the white man’s land court to the Cook Islands. Interpreting in court from English to Cook Islands Maori and vice versa has been a […]

Professionals barking up wrong tree

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to add a comment regarding the recent discussion on teen suicide in Rarotonga. Over the past year there have been a number of these teen suicides. After each I have spoken to a few people who have been closely involved with the investigations in each and also people connected with […]

Kata - February 1, 2012

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - February 7, 2012

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Suicide hot line must be a priority for govt

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Most civilised societies have a suicide hot line that is staffed by qualified trained people 24/7 that people can call when they are in stress. I would like to know what pitiful excuse the Cook Island’s government can come up with for not funding such a service. Not enough money is not an […]

Praise for medical service

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My wife and I are enjoying either our 16th or 17th visit to your island from the UK. Unfortunately this time, due to slipping on a wet floor, my wife has had to make use of both in-patient and out-patient facilities at Rarotonga Hospital, and we have to say the skills, care and […]

Kata - February 6, 2012

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - February 4, 2012

Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in Kata

One suicide is one too many

Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have been a volunteer at Te Kainga Mental Health and Wellbeing Clinic for the past eight years, since its inception in 2004. Over this period I have supported Mereana Taikoko, the founder and chairperson of the clinic, in presentations to three successive ministers of health to try to obtain formal funding for […]

Kata - February 3, 2012

Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Good luck to our 7s boys

Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the SS (Smoke Signal) in yesterday’s paper. A comprehensive process took place to select our National 7s team who are currently participating in Wellington. This included the National 7s coach Ramsey Tomokino being present at the Sevens In Heaven tournament 3-5 November last year to […]