Opinion

What is police practice for complaints?

Monday 19 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Listening to the song E Ara by Alex Tell made me write this letter. I am a Cook Islands Maori and male living in New Zealand. However during the first two weeks of November I was holidaying in Rarotonga, a time I will never forget because the night of November 10 was the […]

$55 is way too much

Saturday 17 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, $55 for departure tax is way too much, not only for the oldies but for any visitor to our shores. Think about a young couple with a family of five leaving our beautiful shores after an exceptional holiday having to dig much deeper to put together $275 to tidy up the departure tax. […]

One News is on too late

Saturday 17 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to raise an issue with Cook Islands News concerning the CITV nightly programme, the timing and so on. As a regular viewer of the local and One News, I am very disappointed that the Cook Islands Television is not doing its job properly. For example the One News is supposed to […]

Improve standards

Saturday 17 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We visit beautiful Rarotonga every year and stay at Muri beach. This year our visit was spoiled by the dreadful smell from the chicken farm. Talking to other visitors I believe you will have a problem with tourists not wanting to come back in future and telling other potential tourists about the stink. […]

Downright horrible and disgusting

Saturday 17 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The other night the stench from Scotts farm was so pungent and unbearable that I could not sleep. Nor could my wife and grandchild. We are situated approximately 200 metres from Scotts farm, and the smell coming from that farm is simply unbearable at times. When talking to my neighbours and others in […]

Kata - December 17, 2011

Saturday 17 December 2011 | Published in Kata

A tick for new shipping service

Saturday 17 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Fantastic to read of a shipping service between Samoa and the northern group. I enjoyed my travels on Tapis boats but the shorter trip will be much better. One idea for income for these islands is recycling which would clear the clutter. Merry Xmas all.

There can be no better system

Friday 16 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your article on the Iorama Ngatua acquittal with the highlighting of previous convictions in the publication of December 15 does Iorama and the jury who served at the trial a disservice. Your reporter has wildly oversimplified this matter which lasted the better part of 4 days in the High Court. She was there […]

Disgruntled customer lets off steam

Friday 16 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write this letter in the hope that something tangible comes of my most disappointing dining experience of late. Having spent $39 at Bamboo Jacks in Tupapa for a dismal Friday night takeaway for two, the only potential positive to come of my purchase is that the restaurant learns something and implements some […]

Improvements underway

Friday 16 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to the letter to the newspaper on Thursday December 15, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning has an annual road works programme that is freely available to the general public. Regrettably the extent of repairs and maintenance to our roads needed, far exceeds our annual budget allocation. A scenario that is […]

MOIP tanks at top of public service

Friday 16 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read the letters to the editor with interest, but notice that many are quite personal and do not stick to the point. As far as I can see the acting secretary at MOIP is making a big difference to the ministry. Obviously the writer (Time for a change) is not aware that […]

The smell should not be tolerated

Friday 16 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a resident of Muri living approximately 300 metres from Scotts farm, I would like to add my firm voice of support to a recent letter writer about the disgusting smell coming from Scotts farm that my family and I have had to put up with over the years. Sometimes the smell is […]

Dreams tattered because of greed

Friday 16 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Matthew Tauia doing things the Wale way I hope he knows what doing things the Wale ways means. We want our leaders to have a caring, loving and patient heart. We do not want people who are violent and aggressive and self-centred. I have watched what Nuku Rapana has built, […]

PR: only when youre married?

Thursday 15 December 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Do you have to be married to get permanent residency (PR)? a smoke signaller asks after reading yesterdays front page article Prioritising PR for spouses. Other questions on the subject: Is handing out PR to spouses married to Cook Islanders opening an old can of worms? What if the couple gets divorced do they have […]

Do something about low wages

Thursday 15 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If you have a well-paying job then its easier to pay for stuff like groceries. But because of a lack of awareness or government advertising to get a better education to receive higher wages, some get paid five dollars an hour and it sucks. Because of a failing economy a lot of potential […]

Manureva ketch history sought

Thursday 15 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In 2006 I purchased a 54-ft wooden ketch, the Manureva, in Sebana Cove Malaysia, where it had apparently laid for some years. It was the property of a deceased estate, so obviously I wasnt able to learn anything of its history from the previous owner. I am informed from records found that she […]

MOIP needs a shakeup

Thursday 15 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Some time ago the tar sealed road leading from Rarotongas power station in Avatiu valley right down to the intersection in Ruatonga was excavated to install water/electrical pipes. Since that time MOIP has failed to reseal those parts of the road damaged during the excavation. Used by many people on a daily basis, […]

Kata - December 14, 2011

Wednesday 14 December 2011 | Published in Kata

Fish for chips?

Wednesday 14 December 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

There will undoubtedly be an enormous hue and cry over the pittance Chinese fishing vessels will be paying for the so-called three year exploratory licenses in the vast Cook Islands waters, and so there should be, a smoke signaller writes. The Ministry of Marine Resources release makes reference to the high nature of Cook Islands […]

Lower the departure tax

Wednesday 14 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Now that the departure tax has been raised again I am issuing a challenge to the present government to look into the matter and reduce the departure tax fee to at least $35. A number of our elderly people do travel overseas especially to New Zealand for medical check-ups. With the amount of […]