Opinion

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

Kata - October 8, 2011

Saturday 8 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 […]

Kata - October 6, 2011

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - October 5, 2011

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Kata

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 4, 2011

Tuesday 4 October 2011 | Published in Kata

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

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. […]

Name change wont fix that

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If your writer from Mangere East (September 30) believes in the idea that Samoa is for Samoans, not anyone else, therefore Cook Islands are for Cook Islanders, whats he/she doing living in New Zealand? What does that mean exactly anyway? Should we shut our borders and keep tourists and other foreigners out? He/she […]

Whats wrong with an Aitutaki licence?

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Could one of your staff please have the following clarified for us outer islanders? My daughter, until recently, was living here on Aitutaki. She now resides and works in Rarotonga. She has a valid Cook Islands drivers licence, both car and motorcycle, issued by the Cook Islands Police at Aitutaki. This licence expires […]

Smoke screens

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The legal adviser for the CICC says in Thursdays CI News that the church is simply looking to recover what its owed. Sounds reasonable. But pray tell, what is owed? The church did not buy the land, the church has not built houses on the land. What is it that the church owed […]

Kata - October 1, 2011

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Tepuka leases are sheer hypocrisy

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I need to state a few facts that we the tenants in Tepuka went through with the CICC committee. Meetings between parties commenced in 2006 and in 2008, and the tenants agreed to an increase in rent from $25 to $300 annually. However, when the final print was handed out it showed individual […]