Opinion

Don't play vulgar music!

Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On Monday morning while driving to work as usual with the radio on, a Maori song that was playing at about 7.40am caught my attention. I was so outraged at such a low class composition on wife beating. What was this person thinking while composing the song, is it a reflection of himself? […]

Undersea cable could never pay its way

Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am a 22-year-old Cook Islander living in New Zealand. I was living in Rarotonga from 2001 to 2007 and I have seen firsthand how ridiculous the data and speed plans are from dial up to the ‘New Age’ Broadband, and I can tell you after living here in NZ and enjoying 20MB […]

Kata - March 11, 2011

Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - March 10, 2011

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Blues artist back in Raro

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

California blues songster Diana Harris – whose husky vocals remind critics of Renee Geyer, Sharon Jones and Gladys Knight – performs tonight at the Little Polynesian. Harris first performed on Rarotonga at Billy TK Jnr’s Cook Islands Jazz and Blues Festival three years ago, and since then has returned each year to the ‘magic’ she […]

Only one choice: not to hit

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“At the 100th celebration of International Women’s Day, Punanga Tauturu manager Kairangi Samuela said men have the choice whether to ‘hit her or not’,” writes a smoke signaller. “When are we ever going to learn there is only ONE choice – NOT to hit her? C’mon Kairangi – what we should be educating our people […]

Help repatriate Cook Islanders

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Since the calamity of the earthquake in Christchurch coupled by the loss of lives in a disaster so devastating for the people of Christchurch and the entire nation, it is good to hear the Cook Islands Community in Christchurch coming together to provide spiritual and emotional support amongst each other during these difficult […]

Very murky waters

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The new Speaker of the House is operating in very murky waters. The other unelected parliamentarian in the Pacific who has problems with the media is in Fiji. Under our Constitution the Government can appoint an additional number of parliamentarians who have the right to speak but not to vote in the house. […]

Ridiculous

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is ridiculous… perhaps Sir Geoffrey genuinely feels he has cause for complaint but it’s time journalism stopped apologising for doing its job and I can’t think of anyone better than John Woods to ever so politely suggest there might be other priorities facing parliament such as chronic under attendance and unbridled executive […]

Sound training not finished

Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Regarding the sound quality at the national auditorium, I came down to tutor trainees in 2005 who later became the best auditorium technical crew up until mid 2010. In late 2010 I was asked to return to tutor a fresh crew after the `best’ were dismissed for unbelievable personal issues. I could not […]

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

Counting potential Chinese tourists

Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Responding to yesterday’s CI News article about our country looking to progress a memorandum of understanding on travel with China – which recognises the Cooks as a preferred destination for Chinese travellers – a smoke signaller writes: “If the population of China is 1.5 billion and 0.5% travel and ‘we only need 0.001% of that’, […]

Thanks for shopping spree

Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As the winner of the $500 shopping spree for the Valentine’s Day draw at the T-Shirt Factory, I would personally like to thank everyone involved. It was great fun, and it took me three trips to complete shopping for this very generous prize. Thank you for treating me so wonderfully. It was the […]

PSC should write a public service manual

Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It has become standard practice for incoming Governments to launch attacks on their inherited (and supposedly bloated) public service as a means of quickly shifting expenditure to their own programmes. However, in the Cook Islands it is not supported by the facts. This past financial year the public service under-spent. In some ministries […]

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 […]

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 […]