Opinion

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Kata - March 3, 2012

Saturday 3 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 […]

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 […]

Consider the landing fees Kia Orana Air will pay

Thursday 1 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to yesterday’s front page article ‘International airport land tenders rejected’ a smoke signaller writes: “Joe Ngamata, CEO of the Airport Authority says ‘We are going to negotiate with the interested parties to plot the best way forward’. Let’s hope that the Authority’s ‘bidding war’ for a section of land between the Air New […]

Kata - March 1, 2012

Thursday 1 March 2012 | Published in Kata

'Rock wall is in breach of law'

Thursday 1 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The reply by Bim Tou to my letter regarding the rock wall does not address the fact that it is in breach of section 36 of the Environment Act and the work being carried out is illegal. There is no doubt whatsoever that the activity being undertaken by the Ports Authority falls under […]

We are Christian, and proud of it

Thursday 1 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As you know I am a Master of Ceremony at a couple of entertainment establishments around the island. It is a normal practice for me to open the night with a prayer and close that prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. A couple of nights ago, after saying the prayer and grace, […]

'Dreamliner' would help

Thursday 1 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In an extraordinary act of goodwill, barely half way through the three-year “agreement” with Air New Zealand, the Cook Islands Government has increased its subsidy to the airline. It would seem, despite the obvious hardships confronting the world airline industry, that there are ample opportunities for Air New Zealand to reciprocate “in kind”. […]

Kata - February 29, 2012

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in Kata