Opinion

CEOs statement incredible

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: What an incredible statement in Cook Islands News yesterday [CINews Tuesday Oct 25 p6] accorded to Mr George Turia, the chief executive at minister Bishops office. Just what does a ministers chief executive do anyway? It sure sounds important New Zealand and Australian ministers have secretaries and PR people to field […]

Kata - October 27, 2011

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Sensitivities behind non-disclosure

Tuesday 25 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The article in Saturdays and letters in Mondays CI News deserves a response. I would appreciate it if (you) get your facts right! Nowhere did I state that Bishops trip to China was a secret. These were your reporters (or your words) not mine. I did state that because of the sensitivities of […]

Reply to nitpicking nitwit

Tuesday 25 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller responds to the Off to bed smokie in Saturdays CINews. The New Zealand high commissioner, John Carter, has shown nothing but solidarity and support for the local community ever since he stepped into his post. But theres always some nitpicking nitwit sideliner trying to kill the buzz. Its not the high commissioners […]

Please explain what there is to apologise for

Monday 24 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What next!? Now we have James Bond as our minister of education and tourism! And his assistant secret agent and body guard George Turia finds your news article on the Cabinet Minister Bond (007 1/2 perhaps) and a Chinese national distasteful, and Mr Bond will not be exposed to your reporters in the […]

Why the secrecy?

Monday 24 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is sad state of affairs when a minor government official threatens a newspaper to cut off all access to a cabinet minister because he finds an article in that newspaper distasteful. The article in question relates to Jack Chen, a NZ businessman who faces bribery and money laundering charges in Hong Kong. […]

Do the numbers

Saturday 22 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

So Pissed off driver thinks a distance of 2km at a speed of 30km/h is an eroding of his rights by a minority? a smoke signaller writes in response to a letter to the editor in Thursdays CINews. Was he pissed off when he wrote that diatribe, or was he just pissed? Attacking one of […]

A bridge too far

Saturday 22 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just a few comments regarding the 30km/h speed limit in Muri which is fine but needs a bit of fine tuning. The first is where it begins, which ought to begin from bridge on the Turangi side of the Ngatangiia CICC church zone, because of the many serious traffic accidents that have occurred […]

Kata - October 22, 2011

Saturday 22 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Silly and ignorant

Friday 21 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I think you will find that the reason why so many cultures have similar flood myths is because something actually happened. From what I understand over 100 cultures around the world have some sort of story or tale about flood etc (even the NZ Maori have something too). You will find that there […]

Ministers door open

Friday 21 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in response to the letter by Keynesian. The vehicle in question was purchased under the previous administration as a rubbish truck for the Punanga Nui. It was thought that the older low wheel-base pick-up truck that was assigned to the Minister of CIIC would be a better vehicle for collecting rubbish […]

Kata - October 21, 2011

Friday 21 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Fan zone great way to promote drink-driving

Thursday 20 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to the news of the Rugby World Cup fan zone at the National Auditorium where alcohol will be on sale a smoke signaller writes: What a great way to promote drink-driving set up a fan zone, bring the kids, keep them up late, get the parents wasted then drive home with a vehicle […]

Surely not

Thursday 20 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is very rich for the Finance Minister Brown to claim that his government has been fiscally prudent since assuming office when we all know that it has not. Surely spending the entire annual travel budget for ministers within three months is not fiscally prudent? Surely boosting the budgets of most ministerial support […]

New speed limit inappropriate and ridiculous

Thursday 20 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The newly created road rule in the Muri area of Ngatangiia that forbids vehicles to drive no faster than 30 km/h is totally inappropriate and ridiculous to say the least. Seriously, how can someone be fined for speeding if that person is travelling in a vehicle at 40 km/h in third gear in […]

Kata - October 20, 2011

Thursday 20 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Kiwis thrashing payback for default

Wednesday 19 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

The following smokies show that at least two Cook Islands league supporters are not going to easily let the Kiwis off the hook for their shock cancellation of the much anticipated match against the Kukis earlier this month, and they have linked that to the Kiwis 42-6 test match walloping by the Kangaroos on the […]

Worthless squatters not our words

Wednesday 19 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Once again I am required to answer to the misinformation on Tepuka. I am now convinced that Pureau Manuela is the main source of the misinformation either deliberately or most likely he does not fully understand the situation. Let me for the last time correct Manuelas wrong statements or misinformation. 1. When they […]

Kata - October 19, 2011

Wednesday 19 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Ministry backs bright sparks

Tuesday 18 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I would like to share my views concerning a letter to the editor Why am I too young for a stall? in the Thursday, October 13 edition of Cook Islands News. As the enterprise and financial literacy advisor at the Ministry of Education, I would like to fully support our young entrepreneur, Teherenui […]