Opinion

Poor sound at auditorium

Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I speak in regards to the Composers Competition held last week at the National Auditorium. I have been a regular to this event for the last four years and somehow the quality of the sound this year was terrible. I feel for the composers and singers, for their restless nights to prepare for […]

Kata - March 9, 2011

Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Inaccurate reporting!

Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “I note in this morning’s paper (last page on Saturday re Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee celebrates 24th birthday) that CISNOC’s president Sir Geoffrey was reported to have made a ‘short speech’… Everyone knows Sir Geoffrey does not make short speeches!” “This Smoke signaller notes that Norman George said […]

Strong demand for new broadband plans

Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The interest generated by the introduction of our new Broadband Plans and lower prices has exceeded my expectations. Despite the letters to CINews, in the first four days since launching our new plans, we have processed over 100 service orders from customers taking advantage of the changes we have introduced. This confirms just […]

Suggestions to make internet affordable

Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I worry about the way Telecom Cook Islands (TCI) is promoting their new plans as being cheaper because the reality maybe the exact opposite. This essentially stems from the way their plans have been put together. I refer specifically to the data-capacity and excess charges in their lower priced plans. By the way, […]

Kata - March 8, 2011

Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Telecom, the game's up!

Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is little doubt that Telecom Cook Islands is mounting what can only be viewed as a rear-guard action to continue to enjoy its monopoly position in the Cook Islands. As the Cook Islands’ most loathed business, they will find few supporters amongst local business and residential customers. That is of their own […]

E reo akameitakianga

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is with a thankful heart and a rejoicing spirit that I would like to express my sincere grateful appreciation to the following people (or persons) who, as a result of an accident on Saturday February 19, 2011, comforted and prayed over me in my time of desperation as I struggled for life. […]

Bird survives tree trimming

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yesterday (Friday) I received a phone call from TM: “We are trimming trees in Upper Tupapa and found a young native bird sitting on a branch. Could you come and get it so we can cut the tree?” I assumed the bird was a Kakaia chick (White Tern), and they have been fed […]

Land today, road tomorrow

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Wake up landowners of Rarotonga!” shouts a smoke signaller. “Minister Teariki Heather’s explanation [see yesterday’s front page article Widening Explained] for why government is taking soil from the roadsides is deliberate obfuscation for stealing the land from under your feet. If anyone bothers to check, you will find that half the soil is being removed […]

Kata - March 5, 2011

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Sooner or later

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As far as I am concerned, I am not the least bit interested to learn how TCI formulates and justifies its charges. At the end of the day the telecommunications industry in the Cook Islands comprises of one player, that being TCI, which makes it a monopoly. This is my interest and what […]

Fishing company denies 'on-selling'

Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your headline and article in Tuesday’s press by Florence Syme-Buchanan about fishing licences for NCIFC contained many seriously misleading errors which can easily have been researched properly by the writer. A most serious accusation is that NCIFC ‘on-sold’ licences for ‘big profits’ more than what MMR were charging. This was a very specific […]

Vulgar and disgusting

Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor, I write in regard to Ken Kingsbury’s question of February 23, Where’s all the good music? You are very right Ken. Where’s all the good music indeed? I do wonder what some song writers are thinking about when writing the lyric to a song. One song that has a very catchy tune caught […]

Could local net be free?

Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Our internet link to the outside world takes place via satellite and Telecom Cook Islands CEO Jules Maher says these satellite services are expensive (see his letter to the editor yesterday). A smoke signaller makes a suggestion: “Why not allow all internet transmission within Rarotonga to be free to TCI customers and only charge once […]

Kata - March 4, 2011

Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - March 3, 2011

Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Kata

How much was 'scalped'?

Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Through your newspaper I think the public has every right to learn more about the royalties that were obtained by local middle men for foreign fishing fleets which were licensed to fish in our country’s waters. The first has to do with those involved in this rort whereby a sizeable chunk of the […]

Recycled rubbish should go to NZ

Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are really pleased to see the kerbside collection of recyclables happening again. Now the community can separate their recyclables from their general waste and know that they will remain separated. We are hopeful that efforts are being made to send those recyclables to New Zealand. We believe that recyclables should be sent […]

Tereora barrier removed

Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The road crossing barrier between Tereora College and the Turamatuitui store in Nikao has been removed due to the number of accidents that have occurred at the barrier since it was erected some four years ago. Police inspector Tere Patia says that around five accidents have occurred at the barrier crossing which was initially installed […]