Opinion

Not convicted

Thursday 5 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In yesterdays CINews mention was made about my client Matangaro Lang, being convicted of breaching a non molestation order. Although the J.P. found her guilty on the evidence before her, she did not convict her of the charge. Instead my client was discharged without conviction and ordered to come up for sentence if […]

SS Maitai designers turning in graves

Thursday 5 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yesterday I wrote to you on a serious matter of defamation. Today I am writing to you on an even more serious matter your blatant…. ongoing… gratuitous…. unforgivable… inexplicable… refusal to embrace elementary aspects of marine engineering as they relate to the description of the component parts of steamship propulsion systems. Yes, I […]

Kata - May 5, 2011

Thursday 5 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Allegation outrageous

Wednesday 4 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last Saturday the Cook Islands News reported on the Yvonne Quarter jail sentence. The article included outrageous, and unsubstantiated allegations against other staff members of our company. I find this an appalling and contemptuous piece of journalism. Here are some facts. Yvonne Quarter stole in excess of $75,000 from our company in a […]

Kata - May 4, 2011

Wednesday 4 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Reasons for exploratory fishing not good enough

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The MMR public consultation on exploratory fishing was a big disappointment for me. With all the media hype involved, I was expecting the Pukapuka hostel to be full! In fact, no offence, but there were more ex-pats there than our local Maori people. To make matters worse, the presentation was all in English […]

A setback for democracy

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent subterfuge in Parliament to plunk MP Norman George before the Privileges Committee has not surprised me that it would fertile incense, repartee and debate. Friends and strangers who have visited, rung and stopped by for a chat, fervently expressed coherent comments and opinions in the negative. Standing Orders 37 & 38 […]

Tax trumps MMRs $4M

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The report that the Ministry of Marine Resources will make $4 million was probably designed to impress, writes a smoke in response to a front page article in Saturdays CI News. Not so it was a pathetic endeavour to gloss over the bad administration over the last few years. I bet MMR gave the story […]

Kata - May 3, 2011

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - May 2, 2011

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Kata

TIS asks to be on fishery review panel

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Wed like to thank the Minister for Marine Resources Teina Bishop, the Secretary of Marine Resources Ben Ponia and his staff for adopting a policy of transparency and presenting their proposed exploratory fishing plans at a public meeting last Thursday evening. We had asked MMR to meet with our members at our own […]

Enough is enough

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a frequent globetrotter himself, I find it rather amusing that the Public Service Commissioner is now working furiously to put into place a mechanism so as to prevent HOMs from taking further advantage of their positions to abuse overseas travel. But good on Navy Epati for having the guts to stand his […]

Noise just a diversion

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: Its obvious that no matter what the PEOPLE of the Cook Islands think, no matter what noises the minister makes, our government will carry out the so-called exploratory purse seining and then go for it. After all who cares about fish stocks in our waters? Why cant we make a stand […]

Conned big time

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Chinese are taking far more fishing stock right now from Cook Islands waters and basically there is nothing Cook Islanders can do about it! Cheap loans, smiling Chinese government officials, cheap buildings with Chinese labour and materials! Cook Islanders have been conned big time. There wont be much fish or any seafood […]

Police finance process new

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the article in the Cook Islands News dated Thursday April 28 and titled Audit finds faults in Police books. I would like to point out that your reporter has incorrectly reported the period of the report as covering the period from October 1 to December 31 2010. The report in […]

Usurpers warned

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Where are the tangata whenua of NZ and Aussie, in the Anzac battle at Raemaru? We were not consulted nor were we asked to be selectors or players. To show our displeasure at this obvious snub of the Anzac natives, we and our supporters will hold a hikoi from anywhere on Rarotonga to […]

Why do we pay a suspended HOM?

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can someone in government please tell the public why the former Secretary for Justice continues to receive his full pay months after he has been suspended? Surely there is a limit or cut off period when a suspended HOM or any public servant for that matter stops receiving a salary. And what happens […]

Dont be fooled

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Every Cook Islander and Pacific Islander should click and see these videos. Purse seine fishing is going to destroy the fish stocks in our territories. No matter what the government says or theyre research seems to claim, this irresponsible act of allowing purse seine fishing will be disastrous for our ocean ecology and […]

Kata - April 29, 2011

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Disbelief at size of ships

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with disbelief the concept that a cruise ship of 150m will be able to just drive in and back out of your exposed harbour. I then took it upon myself to do some research on the size of cruise ships that visit Rarotonga and am amazed that the port itself must […]