Opinion

Kata - June 3, 2011

Friday 3 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Give free patches to help quit

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

I note with interest that Government and the Ministry of Health are trying to stamp out smoking, a smoke signaller writes. Why, with the high tax collected on cigarettes, is the ministry not providing FREE patches for any smoker who wants to stop? The revenue collected by way of tax needs to be directed to […]

Kata - June 2, 2011

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Card seller has bully beef

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Not all retailers are delighted at being turned over by Telecom, a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterdays smokie on E-Cards. Switching from 20 percent to 7 percent margin is only part of the problem. Providing till-roll, internet and increased shopkeeper time (now most of the transactions are at the $5 level) means that […]

Unhappy over surf mission

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What a deal for wanting to do a good thing! The aim of the recent two week surf mission was to introduce the Australian people to the beauty of the Cook Islands through a Track Magazine article, to be produced within the next three months. Businesses in the Cook Islands were keen to […]

Much potential in eGovernment

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Until recently, the main drivers internationally for e-government have been efficiency gains and effective delivery of policy outcomes. The focus has now shifted to other objectives such as improving services, increasing accountability and facilitating engagement with the public. I was encouraged by the statements made by Finance Minister Mark Brown in Saturdays paper […]

Kata - May 31, 2011

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Closely watching the tap kick

Monday 30 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The CITV commentators of the premier rugby league final on Saturday night bagged the referee so much on his dangerous tackle rulings that they missed an obvious flaw in the application of the rules, a smoke signaller writes. All season the referees insisted that at the tap kick, the ball must leave the players hands […]

Slippery, smelly, steep slope

Monday 30 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Over the last few years we have been doing early morning fitness walks up hospital hill. In the past when we got about three-quarters of the way up we often used to walk through the delightful smell of raw sewage wafting down from the hospitals septic tanks. Now a large area of hillside […]

Kite-surfers, tread lightly

Monday 30 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have just returned from a week in Aitutaki – my fifth visit there. I spent two days on the beautiful lagoon. I visited Honeymoon Island and was extremely disturbed to see construction taking place on this island amongst the nesting ground of the Red-Tailed Tern. To hear that the kite-surfing championships, in […]

Some tourists we dont enjoy

Monday 30 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Much as we like having tourists visit our country, there is one kind of tourist we don’t enjoy having. They are usually young New Zealanders, in their 20s, who travel cheaply and usually as a group of six to eight. Seemingly they are enjoying themselves, until you get up close to them. You […]

Lets hear a balanced view

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is obvious from the article Problems with government appointments published on Wednesday 25 May that certain HOMs, considered to be appointments under the previous government, who are not in favour with the new regime, seem to be targeted. I hope this is not part of an organised systematic approach to slowly weed […]

What a big joke!

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Mrs Quarter, Vainetoa, and the letter Justice must not be cruel published Wednesday May 11 – what a joke! What does having children have anything to do with it? You mentioned in your response to Honesty, the best policy of all, published Tuesday May 10 from me as the mother, […]

Kata - May 27, 2011

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Disgusting plan, consultations a sham

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

No surprises that the government has gone ahead and approved 20 new fishing licenses going against huge public opposition, a smoke signaller writes. The so-called consultations were merely an attempt to smooth over the many public objections and make it appear that we had a say over our own marine resources. Sadly, the truth is […]

Catholic fundraiser at St Josephs

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Umu, barbeque and desserts are on the Catholic Youth Gala menu today. The Catholic youth will be running a food gala in front of the St Josephs Hall behind the Avarua Catholic Cathedral that will include local, Tahitian and outer island delicacies such as rimu and tupa. Food sales will start at 7.30 this morning […]

Not enough space

Thursday 26 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After visiting the Esther Honey compound last week, I was very disturbed to see how little room they have to keep the unwanted animals that they have on site. Where they are at present is only a quarter acre of land, and is not big enough for the purpose. Is there anyone out […]

Its not drunk driving

Thursday 26 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to correct your heading of Jury Convicts man of drunk driving in Wednesdays Cook Islands News. My client Koroa Raumea was not convicted of drunken driving but of driving with excess alcohol in his breath EBA. He was acquitted of 2 charges of driving under the influence of drink or […]

Kata - May 26, 2011

Thursday 26 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - May 25, 2011

Wednesday 25 May 2011 | Published in Kata