Opinion

Best test to use native tongue

Wednesday 20 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with professional interest the correspondence concerning Sam Crocombes intervention in Maori at the recent Economic Summit. May I reiterate that it was with professional interest. I concede that Mr Crocombe is a very close personal friend but the matters I would like to present go far deeper than any personalities or […]

Sorry, sold out!

Wednesday 20 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, First stop, Kai Moana Seafood. I was surprised to see a window that was empty of fish. The sign read: Frozen New Zealand Fish Fillets. Next stop, Ocean Fresh. The sign read: Sorry, we have sold out! Next stop, Fish For Sail on the back road. The sign read: CLOSED. Next stop, The […]

AT THE SPORTS AWARDS

Wednesday 20 April 2011 | Published in Kata

If Mark Brown says that sacking unproductive public servants is not an option, then the only thing left to do is replace the slackers with people who will put in a days work for a days pay, writes a smoke signaller. In the alternative, the Minister needs to say publicly that the slackers can stay […]

Manihiki lands for betterment of all?

Tuesday 19 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is quite interesting reading of the Manihiki airport incidents and how people can come up with their personal interest in the airport lands ownership. They talk about how traditional customs are still valued, but are they sure of that? There are people in the extended families who still have the rights to […]

What now, fishgate?

Tuesday 19 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Theres growing opposition to the way the government through its Ministry of Marine Resources is handling the future of our oceans. One MMR official, who blames the media for the public reaction, needs to realise the backlash is because of the way they have foisted the fishery plan on an unsuspecting public, and signing the […]

All islands need water tanks

Saturday 16 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The heading in the newspaper [yesterday] ‘Water tanks for all’ is an incorrect heading because it only looks at people living in Rarotonga,” writes a smoke signaller. “Here again the government of the day forgets that there are people living in the outer islands. We are not connected to a municipal water supply, we have […]

Criticism of te reo gutless, insulting

Saturday 16 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is in response to your smoke signaller’s comments (Friday April 15) about me. I want to spell out very clearly to this gutless prick, that I am a Cook Islander with a culture and a language and that is my identity and I am proud of it, and which entitles me with […]

MOU puts us at risk

Saturday 16 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is quite disappointing that Minister Teina Bishop has placed his signature on the MOU with the Chinese for purse seine fishing, exploratory or otherwise. I wonder whether he understands the risk he has placed on this country’s fishing resource. Maybe the PM will come on board and relook at this deal. I […]

Nation's ideas need nurturing

Friday 15 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Wilkie Rasmussen says the Economic Development Summit was a waste of time and money as government will just go on its normal path, ignoring the man on the street,” a smoke signaller notes. “If one needed one small example, it would be when the Titikaveka Growers took the initiative to source a big commercial mulcher […]

Some Aitutaki home owners upset

Friday 15 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Firstly we would like to say that we are very grateful to the Cook Islands and New Zealand Governments for their invaluable support and assistance to Aitutaki during and after the cyclone Pat. We are also grateful to Peter Scantlebury from the NZaid that has worked tirelessly over the past 12 months in […]

Alistair Campbell exhibition outstanding

Friday 15 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last night my family and I had the privilege of attending the opening of the Alistair Te Ariki Campbell Exhibition at the Pataka Museum in Porirua. The exhibition celebrates the life of one of NZ’s greatest poets and one of Tongareva, Penrhyn Island’s greatest sons. To sit at the opening of that exhibition […]

Kata - April 15, 2011

Friday 15 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Facts first, for fishery

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have followed with interest the debate regarding the issue of proposed purse seining in Cook Islands waters. Having been involved in fisheries management for a number of years I am concerned that “good stories” seems to be getting in the way of a number of relevant facts. It is absolutely correct for […]

The economic reality of agriculture

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, At Tuesday’s Economic Summit meeting, when the topic was agriculture, we ran out of time (lunch pending) so I was not able to speak. Therefore I would like to use this medium to say what I wanted to say: The economic reality of the agriculture industry here is that it is very hard […]

Dance for ourselves

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Economic Summit is all about money and making a living, each of us and as a nation. But in the arts this is best achieved somewhat indirectly. Although it might be okay to label the arts “Creative Industries” for administrative reasons, this label does not indicate a working formula for the production […]

Kata - April 14, 2011

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Sewerage scheme already planned, costed

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I listened with interest to Des Eggleton’s very reasoned arguments for the centralisation and disposal of sewage waste at Wednesday’s Summit. In the lead up to the last general election, I endeavoured to interest those candidates who approached me to address this very question and urged them to seek out a report prepared […]

New cars for new leaders

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller spotted at the Economic Summit yesterday the president of the House of Ariki getting out of a blue government car, registration GA79 “that was a real bomb”. Parked next to it was also a blue car, “but a very flash and new” GA387 driven by the acting secretary to Cabinet. The signaller […]

Kata - April 13, 2011

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Tataia te nuti ki roto i te reo Maori

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Kia orana ete Etita, Te tatau nei au ite pepa Kuki Airani, teia te tata anga i runga ite kapi mua “Cook Islands News” Kia eeu au ite kapi pou rava i roto ite pepa ate Kuki Airani, kare takiri e potonga i roto ite pepa ate Kuki Airani e kua tata ia ki roto […]