Opinion

Challenge answered

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just to answer the Headless Chicken Kuki Kukupa who does not want to give his real identity. I did not run away from the Cook Islands I came to New Zealand for better education and to give my children the same. During the 1970s the Cook Islands Party Government did not want to […]

Test equipment a worthless instrument

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I suggest the Healthy Water Consumer in his letter titled Scaremongering logs on to: http://www. guackwatch. orgiO I QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/ clark html. (I provide various extracts from this and other websites). Here he will find the answers to his questions about laboratory test equipment and discover that the so called Syncrometer Cor similar as […]

Penrhyn landowner challenges payment

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am a landowner of Naharakura Section 19, Omoka, Penrhyn, and have succeeded to both the interests of Revahua and Pangerua, the original landowners recognised in the freehold order of JJ MacCauley dated 16 August 1976. On Saturday 24 September, 2011, I read in the Cook Islands News the most welcome news that […]

Kata - October 10, 2011

Monday 10 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - October 8, 2011

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Scaremongering

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am concerned about Mr Richard Wachters claims regarding his water testing, What qualifications does Mr Wachter have, does he have a proper laboratory, control sample procedures, sterile containers, what are his parameters for his tests and what standards is he using? In a past report he even claimed the HIV virus was […]

A virtual meeting would lead world

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I hear PM Henry Puna saying that their trips overseas are necessary. I believe it is time for a paradigm shift and our small Pacific Nations could lead the world in realising the extent of technological advances and letting the world know that were serious about reducing our carbon footprint. The Smoke Signaller […]

A government full of yes-men?

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is an old Chinese proverb which says that a government full of yes-men ill serves the needs of the people. When you look at our own situation here, the costly yet totally unnecessary expansion of ministerial support office budgets, coupled with the ever-increasing political interference in the appointments of senior public servants, […]

Wheres CISNOCs report?

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The Pacific Games have come and gone and theres no word from the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee on the teams performance, a smoke signaller writes. No accountability of funds that CISNOC got from government. Check out the Pacific Games website to find out that this was the Cooks worst-ever performance at any […]

Kata - October 6, 2011

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Will they handle the heat?

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Two smoke signallers have commented on the water tanks purchased by the government to ship to the outer islands. I was pricing some stuff the other day in Panama [here in Rarotonga, not the country in Central America] and on a vacant block there are heaps and heaps of big plastic water tanks stacked and […]

Lawyer explains

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In a newspaper article published earlier this week, I am reported as being a member of the Land Agents Registration Board. That is incorrect. Prior to standing for Parliament in last years general election I resigned from that position. At the time, I indicated a willingness to be reappointed. However, since then I […]

The future of game fishing doesnt look good

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It was my 60-something birthday last week and with the water warming up there is a bit of bait fish coming in so I thought if the man upstairs is ever going to give me a break, now is the time. Set off early morning and was at the Matavera FAD by 6am. […]

Kata - October 5, 2011

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - October 4, 2011

Tuesday 4 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Behind the Suwarrow deal

Monday 3 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The Suwarrow deal (see Saturdays front page) has caught the publics imagination and weve received some intriguing smokies poking fun at it. First up: Rumour has it that the Cook Islands Government Minister who was in Moscow earlier this year, ostensibly on Health department issues (everyone knew that was total nonsense), had in fact been […]

Dont mention it

Monday 3 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am at a loss as to why some of our local scientists are thinking about a name change for our country the Cook Islands (Kuki Airani in Maori). The name Cook Islands has embraced our paradise for so many years and all of a sudden these so called scientists want name change. […]

Conflict clear

Monday 3 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest your September 23 article regarding an alleged conflict of interest with Steve Anderson being a board member of Te Aponga Uira and his company winning a tender for $100,000. Though Mr Anderson repudiates this I must say it is clear from reading your article that there is a conflict […]

Kata - October 3, 2011

Monday 3 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Easy answer to consultants

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Four hundred thousand dollars for a public sector review? a smoke signaller asks. Nothing has changed in the Cook Islands for decades. Smarmy consultants find aid money for government and come here and use up space, time and resources sitting in a room reviewing. All it takes to reform the public service is for one […]