Opinion

Face it, it's an environmental problem

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Regarding the Ngatangiia Farm Stench, I see in Tuesday’s CINews the Minister of Health Nandi Glassie has finally managed to see through the bunch of crap being put forward by the Director of Environment Vaitoti Tupa and come to the conclusion that this problem is, and always has been, the responsibility of the […]

Kata - February 25, 2012

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Koru lounge or staff pay?

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “It is actually quite devious of the high-ranking CISNOC defenders to let us know coincidentally that the Air NZ Koru Club members of the team have repaid the money they took for their memberships. The treasurer should be the one reporting this, but once again it’s part of the make-it-up-as-we-go spin […]

Useless rock wall

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s ironic that the newspaper had the photo of the new rock wall in the Avatiu harbour with the caption ‘New wharf used for the first time’. The fact that the rock wall is a total waste of money and cannot be used for any harbour function begs the question as to whose […]

Lack of transparency

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are very concerned about the lack of transparency with the seabed mining negotiations. It is only because a question was asked in parliament that we know anything about this latest approach by Endeavour. We urgently request of government that they keep the Cook Islands public fully informed of what is happening. We […]

Kata - February 24, 2012

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Love birds, more like it!

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Torrid? Is that what Wilkie Rasmussen and Henry Puna call it? Ha!” quips a smoke signaller after predictions that this would be the nature of Parliamentary debates between the opposition Democratic Party and ruling Cook Islands Party. “These two guys are as torrid as two love birds on the Rarotonga Golf Club course!” An on […]

Loan conditions are the answer

Thursday 23 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Over the last two months we have heard Mark Brown and Henry Puna parrot the mantra “We cannot direct changes at CISNOC” time and again. “It’s up to the members” they squawk. Even the FINSEC has joined in the birdsong. This is rather disingenuous. On a superficial level, they are right, they cannot […]

It's also exercise

Thursday 23 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter of complaint about pole dancing by Bishop Pere. Pole dancing is also a form of fun dance and of exercise. The ad on TV was a world renowned lady who performs pole dancing as a sport. I hope people who come to the bar will have fun with […]

Kata - February 23, 2012

Thursday 23 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Tighter rein needed in the House

Thursday 23 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “It sounds like Parliament has become a bit of a shambles without the Speaker Sir Geoffrey Henry, who is overseas on medical leave. He would have kept a tighter rein on procedure and respect than it sounded like on Wednesday. How is it that vocal MPs on one day, like Norman […]

Tough times, not markets, closing stores

Wednesday 22 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Night markets are not responsible for the closures of ma and pa stores,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s smokie ‘Markets closing shops?’ “They are indicative of the current tough economic climate experienced by a lot of businesses on the island. The night markets are occurring as a response to customer market demand […]

1-day summit not a good investment

Wednesday 22 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The planned one day youth summit to address suicide in my view is a knee-jerk reaction to the situation rather than a strategic approach for the long haul. I strongly support and share the views expressed by Mereana Taikoko. It was also sad to see that a person who has dedicated her time […]

What's the Air New Zealand deal?

Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Saturday’s somewhat depressing news headline ‘Airline subsidy rises to $12.5m’ prompted one smoke signaller to ask government to reveal what exactly is in the contract deal with Air New Zealand. “And is there a ceiling or limit to the actual monetary level of exposure?” Another signaller writes: “After reading your airline subsidy story on Saturday, […]

Bring in competitor airlines

Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read in your front page story of Saturday 18 February 2012 that the subsidy paid to Air New Zealand from the Cook Islands taxpayers has risen to $12.5million, to cover losses on the Los Angeles and Sydney flights. I wonder if anyone has looked at the amount of profit Air NZ make […]

Kata - February 21, 2012

Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Doctor arrives in Pukapuka

Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Published in Return to Pukapuka

American Amelia Borofsky has been on Pukapuka since last year, and has been providing regular reports to Cook Islands News. Here she writes of Dr Thein’s arrival to the remote northern group island. A doctor has not been in Pukapuka since 2005. For the last 20 years, Manongi Tiro, a nurse practitioner, has served her […]

Leadership posturing is just opportunism

Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Norman George’s posturing for leadership of the Democratic Party is pretty low. For many his announcement on Saturday will be socially and culturally offensive. It’s just opportunism of him to be making political capital out of Robert Wigmore’s illness. It says more about Norman’s character than anything else, and hopefully Wilkie and the others will […]

Traditional titles are 'family formations'

Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was at an Ariki title family meeting last night here in Auckland. A woman, who spoke, quoted extracts from a letter by Mr Joseph Ka, which she said was published in your newspaper. Everything she said aroused my interest to know more and learn what Mr Ka wrote. I vividly recalled my […]

Kata - February 20, 2012

Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Kata