Opinion

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 […]

Kata - September 30, 2011

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Keep Rarotonga road rage free

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Please dont bring road rage to Rarotonga, a smoke signaller writes. Being a Cook Islands athlete, it is so nice to feel safe when out training on the roads, especially on our bikes. We really appreciate it when drivers give us lots of room when passing and dont overtake when its unsafe. Thanks for all […]

Tepuka debacle a political disaster

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing with regard to the Tepuka saga in yesterdays Cook Islands News. This is a political disaster. This is a classic case of the marginalised being overlooked, neglected and forgotten. There are people living at Tepuka who subsist on a pension, which we all know is not a lot of money. […]

Why are we so scared of a name change?

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was reminded by one of my Samoan grand-aunt by these words — Samoa mo Samoa, or Samoa belongs to Samoans not anyone else. The question I would like to ask those who do not want a change or afraid to change is this why are we so scared to change our islands […]

Kata - September 29, 2011

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Public services need to improve

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How much longer must this country suffer before PM Henry Elvis Puna does the right thing and replaces the current Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati? In recent years the overall delivery of services by the public service has been poor to say the least. The finger of blame for the dismal performance of […]

Alcohol accidents deter honeymooner

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I visited Rarotonga and Aitutaki in 2007 for my honeymoon and every day I dream of returning. But as a potential tourist from the UK I am put off visiting Raro due to the amount of alcohol related road accidents. So many people have been injured or killed due to the selfish behaviour […]

Immigration rejects insinuation

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The issues raised in the article Foreign workers terrified of seeking help (CINews of September 28) are not new and those relating to immigration matters were addressed in my earlier letter on the same general subject (see CINews of September 19). A number of the statements made in the article lack sufficient detail […]

Great job done by Muri group

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Take That Muri who replied to Mata Hetlands letter in the paper was a bit out of line. If the people dont have much food, then they must have their priorities wrong because they drink most weekends, they have money to go to housie, and they have money to go make heaps of […]

Kata - September 28, 2011

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Dont rule by decree like Fiji

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read Mata Shorts nasty comments about my letter. But I still believe Muri has been mistreated on the 10 year raui and the 30km speed limit. Please do not call me Casper. I am not a ghost. I am a real person in the village. Its good I dont use my real […]

Tepuka saga leaves outer islanders high and dry

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Something very unusual in the history of this country is about to happen soon when the CICC successfully terminates 30 leases in Tepuka, the results of which could be: 1. a lot of homeless Cook Islands people camping on public lands or beaches; 2. a lot of people crammed into the cramped homes […]

Kata - September 27, 2011

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Its about the name of our ancestral birthplace

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When James Cook arrived in Aitutaki he named the place the Hervey Islands, it was not the Cook Islands, and when you go to Tahiti or New Zealand they call it Avaiki Nui anyway because in Tahiti they respect and talk how they were taught through their ancestors. Cook Islands is the ancestral […]

Much to do to improve catch rates

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was surprised by the response from the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) to Reuben Tylors letter of concern about the declining catch rates of local fishermen. The evidence given for the supposed acceptable catch rate is concerning and casts doubt on the decision-making capability of this ministry. The author deserves a reprimand […]

Mind your manners

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Ive just recently returned to Melbourne, Australia, from our beautiful paradise. Ive always had great respect for the Air New Zealand staff in Rarotonga. But for those who have no experience in tourism and manners, you need to be re-educated. When passengers are running late, please, dont call out to them to hurry, […]

Hypocrisy

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What hypocrisy from PM Puna re his speech in Auckland recently concerning protecting our ocean. $730 a day! This is what the CIP Government has sold supposedly exploratory fishing rights to the Chinese for three years eight licences, eight boats, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 1095 days over three years. […]

Change of name wont cure our ills

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What a strange thing that Danny Mataroa should accuse this letter-writer of having missed the vaka when the Mata Atua he puts forth as a suggestion for a new name for this country, happens to be my ancestral vaka. A long time ago it brought me right here to my desired destination, thank […]

Kata - September 26, 2011

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Kata