Opinion

Sabbath obsession

Tuesday 6 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, While I dont object to the Filipinos celebrating on a Sunday as many of them work every other day I do object to SDA in yesterdays newspaper asking Sunday Observer if selling liquor on Sunday desecrates his Sabbath. Where in Sunday Observers letter does he call Sunday his Sabbath? Where in his letter […]

Dont take freedom for granted

Tuesday 6 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My childhood memories living in Fiji (end of 1969 to 1975) are of attending the first South Pacific Arts Festival, joining USP students protesting the French tests. (If its so safe, do it in your own back yard.) At 11 years old protesting was all a part of the festivities, a fantastic multicultural […]

Whos the minister trying to fool?

Tuesday 6 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Whos the finance minister trying to fool when he says nobody is losing any money from the Brown Tax? a smoke signaller writes. Im losing money. I was getting 100% of the interest on my savings but from now on Ill only be getting 85% while the government steals the rest to pay for its […]

What about Saturday Sabbath?

Monday 5 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am wondering if the person complaining about the Filipino community sporting on Sunday knows what he is complaining about. Firstly, there may be Seventh Day Adventists in this group and who is he to complain since he is one who desecrates Gods true Sabbath which is the Saturday? Secondly, Adventists are never […]

Leave Club Philippines Raro alone

Monday 5 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Angry Sunday Observer (Cook Islands News September 3), it infuriates me that someone would give Cook Islands culture, and Cook Islanders, a bad name by saying the abuse of such is affected by the celebration of community. Club Philippines Raro brought together its whanau children, adults and elderly to celebrate […]

Think of the mamas

Monday 5 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The 20 member rugby rendezvous masquerading as the Forum delegation would be just fine if the chores had been done before the kids go out to play, a smoke signaller writes. For instance, you kids go for your trip after every household in Rarotonga has a 24 hour, seven day a week supply of fresh […]

Kata - September 5, 2011

Monday 5 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - September 3, 2011

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Kata

No Sunday sport

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Sir, I am responding to your news item of Wednesday August 31 2011 headed, Club Philippines celebrates first year. I believe this was held at Nukupure sports field at Muri, Ngatangiia on Sunday August 28 Fine! Except, why on a Sunday? The celebration was fine but definitely not on Sunday as far as I […]

Where is the CIP love?

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Why is everyone moaning about the MPs travelling to New Zealand with a delegation of 20 or the new interest tax or the money spent on the opening of parliament.We voted them into parliament, didnt we all? We followed their campaign at the elections. Did they deliver? Yes, they did. When you add […]

Sunday Star Times not worth it

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A greater deterrent than the freight-cost of Sunday Star Times as suggested in Fridays Smoke Signal is the export documentation fee and the slim wholesale discount available. At $4 per copy, Bounty Bookshop was losing more than $100 per week when distribution was taken over by Fairfax Media, with a higher documentation fee. […]

Audit a valuable service

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I support the work by the Audit Director and his staff. Without this office and leadership by Paul, we would be like PNG, corrupt and down the drain. Sholans ranting is crap…this guy only just finished school and Maoate gave him the top treasury job. Look what financial mismanagement he has left us, […]

Kata - September 2, 2011

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Lost Tribe repeats its plea

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor, I wrote a letter to CI News more than a fortnight ago headed Request to PM from Lost Tribe, which related to our PM Henry Punas discussion with John Key recently in New Zealand on the subject of portability of NZ superannuation to deserving local residents. Ive not yet received an answer to […]

See what $48,000 could buy for the Cooks

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

No amount of wisdom, logic or outrage is going to stop the travel of the 20 to the Forum, a smoke signaller writes. But before you anointed ones travel offshore, travel to your local primary school and ask the principal for a tour of the worn out fixtures and buildings. Then climb upstairs at the […]

Kata - September 1, 2011

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Perplexing priorities

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: Government has been billed as Henrys Travelling Circus, whose members stay home just long enough to enact ill-conceived and unpopular withholding tax legislation to rake in revenue from thrifty savers on the one hand, while on the other, doling out a substantial $48,000 of taxpayers money to fund a grossly outsized […]

Doomsday for disgruntled taxpayer

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the Taxpayer: Today makes the start of the Brown tax on your savings. Fact Information Sheet part 2. 1. All interest on deposits at local banks will be taxed 15%. 2. This will be the first time since 1 July 1997 that interest from Westpac or ANZ has been taxed. 3. The […]

CITC explains minimum charges

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like CITC to clarify why they have minimum purchase amounts per EFTPOS on a DEBIT card (not credit card) linked to either ANZ/Westpac local bank accounts. On numerous occasions when I have personally shopped at CITC/Foodland and I have purchased items under $15, the checkout operators have tried to make me […]

Spending just goes on

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Please allow me to point out my very concern in your paper about the current Government. Mark Brown who has the title of Minister of Finance has shown over and over again that he is obviously not capable for the position. I have done USP courses and havent finished but dont think I […]