Opinion

Passion and concern

Tuesday 17 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to the letter to the editor headed TIS should fight fishing, not cars, TIS was responding to a request from media to make a comment on a story about the importation of cars. It is wonderful to read the letter writers passion and concern for over-fishing in our waters there is […]

Licences a national disaster

Tuesday 17 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m not sure how the meeting concluded between the Empire (Lord Darth Vader Bishop & MMR) and the local fishermen last week. Tapi Taio and various others who have raised the issue of foreign entities given licence to fish in Cook Islands waters are absolutely correct in their concerns. This is a national […]

In support of name change

Tuesday 17 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just a short letter to support the idea of a name change. This is not new for the Cook Islands. The name Cook Islands was given to us, I believe in 1915 by a Russian and maybe Shake, Rattle, Roll is not aware of that. Kare tatou i te Kuki Airani mei po […]

Kata - January 17, 2012

Tuesday 17 January 2012 | Published in Kata

Protect our front door

Monday 16 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A couple of years back I wrote to remind us of the vulnerability our airport/airfield is in Rarotonga. Whilst we spent millions of $$$ giving our airport buildings a facelift, we forgot the crucial part that is open to element that can and has left us vulnerable in the past. One would think, […]

What TIS does

Monday 16 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Te Ipukarea Society works on a wide variety of issues. We advocate biodegradable picnic-ware, crushed glass for use as aggregate and management of electronic waste. We set up the first recycling centre in 1996 in Panama. We advocate green infrastructure (alternative energy, roof-top water collection, ecological sanitation). We provide feedback on government policy […]

Enviro tax abolished

Monday 16 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to correct the misinformation that there is still an environmental tax in the Cook Islands. The Environment Protection Fund (money raised through a portion of departure tax) was abolished when the Departure Tax Amendment Act was passed in 2008. The Environment Protection Fund no longer exists. With increasing development there […]

Kata - January 16, 2012

Monday 16 January 2012 | Published in Kata

Nutty statement

Monday 16 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Drumming at 9pm is the nuttiest statement by M Partridge of Henderson NZ. Obviously you left way before the Te Varanui started M Henderson, so you havent experienced the noise including the offending smell from the Scotts Farm. Living right opposite Te Varanui is anything but peaceful with drumming starting up at 9pm […]

Atawaiwolo, powerful thank you

Monday 16 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I thank your Smoke Signaler for identifying and endorsing my newly created capacity as an expert in our Cook Islands literature; I wasnt aware of that. And my thanking Emile Kairua for his responding comments by the use of Atawaiwolo was not an implication that Mr Kairua is of Pukapukan descent either? Atawaiwolo […]

Many hands make light work

Saturday 14 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Responding to yesterdays p10 article on Mangaia Island Administration workers titled MIA not missing in action a smoke signaller writes: I was in Mitiaro when the island experienced the same weather pattern and perhaps the Mangaia Island Admin could learn from the good example of the Mitiaro Island Admin which utilised the MOIP staff [Ministry […]

Whoopdedoo

Saturday 14 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What a lovely letter to the editor regarding Captain Tama and his lagoon cruises except that the letter writer forgot to mention that she has been known to accompany the good captain to conduct massages on Motu Koromiri. . That Jenny is writing her letter of praise is just spindoctoring with neither of […]

Cleaned up?

Saturday 14 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a person who for several months rented a flat near the chicken farm, I can confirm that the smell at the time and up until recently was really dreadful. However, I note that lately, the smell has completely gone, so the letters to the editor have certainly had a good effect on […]

Time is short

Saturday 14 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With regard to CISNOC, $800,000 is a lot of money (outstanding debt) as stated in the paper last week. But, only a small pebble in the ocean when you look at what a Cook Islands Olympic Team means to the tourism industry and local business here in the Cook Islands. The Olympic Games […]

Beautiful haircutting v. pompous investiture

Saturday 14 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In the Cook Islands News on Monday January 9 was an article about 300 people attending a young warriors hair-cutting ceremony. Wow!!! Here we have Ezekiel Tuatea Tatuava-Enjoys traditional hair-cutting ceremony. His proud parents were joined by 300-plus family and friends and leaders of the community for the special, traditional ceremony. Beautiful. Now, […]

Kata - January 14, 2012

Saturday 14 January 2012 | Published in Kata

Everyone must sell the Cooks

Friday 13 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “I have recently heard that some resorts are demanding a commission, also known as a kickback, for referring tourists to certain service providers such as restaurants, fishing charters and dive operators. I hope this falls flat on its face because it’s everyone’s job in the Cooks to ‘sell the Cook Islands’.” […]

Amelia meets a real cowboy

Friday 13 January 2012 | Published in Return to Pukapuka

At 81 years old, Charlie Frisbie is the Wola or the oldest man living in Pukapuka. The first son of Robert Dean Frisbie, the South Seas trader and writer, Charlie Frisbie can be found today sitting on his turquoise and pink verandah with his feet up reading the Book of Pukapuka. With his trademark mix […]

Special thank you, Captain Tama

Friday 13 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last month, over 20 little local children got to have what they said was the Best Day of Their Lives on Captain Tamas Glass Bottom Boat for a birthday celebration for my daughter Mere who has turned 10. We had so much fun aboard the glass bottom boat it was amazing. It gave […]

TIS supports proposed shark sanctuary

Friday 13 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, TIS is in full support of the recent initiative by PICI to establish a shark sanctuary in the Cook Islands. We also know how important shark fins are in Chinese cooking. We would like to know if there are any provisions in any of the foreign fishing licenses issued recently to the Chinese […]