Opinion

What price do we put on culture?

Monday 13 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes to TXT188 about the stage production based on the legend of Pipirima, the inseparable twins, which may end up being a single performance due to the venue cost: We should have another showing of Once Upon a Reef its awesome. If we need money, lets fundraise and get sponsors. Come on […]

Rarotonga a great holiday destination

Monday 13 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have recently returned from a holiday in Rarotonga. We had a really great time, the people were friendly and helpful wherever we went. I was impressed how clean the place was with not a lot of plastic bags that seem to cover Fiji when you leave the resorts there. Will be back […]

Tahiti ag trip surprises

Saturday 11 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

There was plenty of head shaking from some readers yesterday in reaction to the news that the minister of agriculture wants to take a delegation to Tahiti to look at how they grow things that we already know how to grow here. Its great that the minister is open about the plans, says one smoke […]

Different interpretation of genealogy

Saturday 11 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Referring to Yolande Brownes letter of May 22, we are also from the Tangiia Nui you are talking about. People have different stories of Tangiia Nui. He is known to the Manihikian, the Rangiatea and Raiatea as Te Mata O Uhenga. I am from the Ukarau Arera lines on my Pukapuka and Aitutakian […]

No need to wait for authority

Saturday 11 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I refer to Norman Georges letter to the editor in your paper dated, 3 June 2011, asking government to introduce a Police Complaints Authority which is probably a good idea. However, I would like to assure members of the community and visitors that they do not need to wait for one to be […]

Best detectives still serving

Saturday 11 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Katas cartoon in your paper of 3 June 2011, referred to my best detective being charged for smoking pot. I categorically refute this and would like to assure members of our community including our visitors that my best detectives are still serving with me, and working tirelessly and to the best of their […]

Akonoia te motu Maina Iti

Saturday 11 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Ki te Editor Kare rava au e rekareka ana i teia aronga kite surfing rubbish e te akatu are ki Maina Iti. Ko Maina Iti ko Maina atupaka rai ia its part of big Maina. Noai ma teia motu no matou ma atu enua- Elia family 7 acres yes I am a land owner- Avei […]

Cruise ships berth waste of money

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Wow, work is getting underway at the wharf but when I asked someone what was it for he said it was for the cruise ships, so the cruise ships can berth and turn around. I thought to myself, what a waste of money building a pathway for cruise ships to turn around. Havent […]

Public relations needed

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Because the results of the Cook Islands vs. Fiji game had not been announced on the radio for the whole of Wednesday unlike the wins against PNG and Samoa, I called the CISNOC office on Thursday morning eager to find out how they did. But, to my surprise, the response from the person […]

Please show some compassion

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I would like offer my support to Yvonne Quarter and her family. I do not condone breaking the law at any time. It is evident that Yvonne and her family have already paid a very heavy price for her actions – public humiliation and condemnation, financial and emotional stress, happy yet? No, lets […]

Kata - June 9, 2011

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Paper wasps: Not as bad as they look

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Rarotonga residents who recently have been ducking and sidestepping frisky wasps will be happy that the large number of these insects has dwindled in the past fortnight. After the tropical depression brought high winds and rain to the Southern Cooks last month, the following sunny weather in turn brought the wasps out in very large […]

Road maintenance neglected once more

Wednesday 8 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When he first came into power the Minister for Infrastructure, Teariki Heather, made certain that the condition of the roads around Rarotonga were brought up to a reasonable standard. Although the work carried out by road works was far from satisfactory, motorists were generally happy with the road maintenance as they did not […]

Is NES telling the truth?

Wednesday 8 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The answer from the Environment Service to my letter about the mud and possible sewage running down the road on hospital hill is unbelievable, Buried waste a public heath risk, published June 2. Is Vavia Tangatataia trying to say those two big mud flows didnt happen? I wasnt talking about some old dry […]

Good television needed

Tuesday 7 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How boring it is to see nothing at all interesting on CITV. All through the day we see Australia network and after 11 pm we see Australia network again -wow. Whats the point of Computer Man paying for the same old advertisement with the same old special on a phone which is selling […]

A message we dont want to hear

Tuesday 7 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The hermit crab article in Saturdays paper Ecosystems deserve some consideration was a thought provoking story. Even I, who knows the issues, dont want to hear that I need to think more broadly when I crave ariri, paua or eke! People just wont stop eating their traditional food especially when it is so […]

Were a car dumping ground

Tuesday 7 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

While the world automotive industry re-tools for hybrids and electric drive trains, most every ship landing in the Cook Islands brings a load of petrol-guzzling monsters designed for cheap petrol and 100kph road speeds, a smoke signaller writes. We continue to be on the list of ignorant Third World countries that serve as the dumping […]

Rarotonga the black pearl of Pacific

Saturday 4 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Referring to the letter We like to enjoy our waves as they are published on May 21 and others on the subject of surf tours. I was not showing a one-way attitude I was just talking about the types of accommodations that tourists like to live in. I did not put down the […]

Why is there state censorship?

Saturday 4 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I cant understand why in Fiji there is still state censorship of the media and restriction on free speech four and half years after the 2006 coup? That might be the post coup regimes way of shaping a better Fiji but it is not a very convincing way, is it? I think it […]

Hats off to Ngateina Rani

Saturday 4 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With all the media coverage of the Mauke water project success, I take my hat off for to the project manager, Ngateina Rani. Congratulations for the excellent accomplishment of this water project and the effort you have made. You have made us really proud and shows that you able to prove your academic […]