Opinion

'Let's get on with it, mate'

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My sympathy to those Queenslanders affected by the floods. Green and Gold, like Tok, is asking for a national fundraising appeal. Let’s be realistic and practical. Aussies are seasoned victims of all kinds of disasters – fires, cyclones, floods, drought. However, the thing about Aussies is that during or after a disaster, unlike […]

Kata - January 14, 2011

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in Kata

Fix the disgusting stench in Avana

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Instead of cutting down killer coconut trees, can the Ministry of Works guys do something about the disgusting mess at the bridge opposite the Ngatangiia CICC at Avana?” pleads a smoke signaller. “Driving past, you notice the stench getting stronger and stronger every day. I almost vomited when I walked past there this morning. It […]

Let's launch fundraising appeal

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have no idea whether the Prime Minister is intending to launch a national fundraising appeal to assist those in Australia who have been badly affected by the severe flooding in recent weeks, but I really hope that he and his government take the opportunity to do so. Asides from putting out the […]

Govt brave and courageous

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing to commend the Prime Minister and his newly elected government for the brave and courageous stand towards the prevention of HIV and all other STI, in the Cook Islands. It is rewarding to read that you have all worked together to resolve this issue. I would also like to offer […]

Ignorance is bliss

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’d like to educate a little…. Cook Islands and Proud, you don’t have to have sex to contract HIV. You can contract it from as easy as having a blood transfusion. It is not air-borne, you can’t get it from touching someone like you can get conjunctivitis. I am not an outsider, I […]

Kata - January 13, 2011

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Kata

It's show time on outer islands

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Today is the DAY to determine our future, in securing a very satisfying and better tomorrow for all Aitutakians. There is no more time for weighing the pros and cons, it is now show time. It is time to look at our pa metua, our mapu, and our children. We are indebted to […]

Mayoralty should not be 'political'

Wednesday 12 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s that time again – the race for the Aitutaki Mayoral position is up for grabs. I am currently on Aitutaki, and I could feel an air of expected cotton downed tension among my Aitutaki people, especially among family members. Surprisingly, I am experiencing an unnecessary segregation barrier among our people, with their […]

Give nurses credit

Wednesday 12 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m somewhat bemused by ‘Very Angry’ in terms of nurses having a social gathering to reflect the year’s end of 2010. Whether its merrymaking, or celebrating for that matter, it definitely gives the nurses the chance to express their passion in seeing the year out and to welcome the new year of 2011. […]

Don't listen to outsiders

Wednesday 12 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was just wondering if someone who is a foreign worker who brings AIDS into our country or receives it while here on our island should be deported back home. We have a population of only 10,000 people and decreasing, so what is of concern is that we don’t know who it is, […]

Do decent thing

Wednesday 12 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The HIV carrier that we have on the island must be shaking in his/her pants for the uproar he/she is causing our people. I feel sorry for you mate, I also feel sorry for all those you may have infected. You both are important however, if you maintain your stance and stay on […]

The fact is, Jesus was born

Wednesday 12 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter of Les Priest yesterday. Funnily enough, the Archbishop of Canterbury is hardly the sort of person you want on your “team”. His views are heretical and do not reflect Biblical Christianity in any way. The fact is, Jesus Christ was born (probably not in December but it is […]

Nurses' party disturbing

Tuesday 11 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write to share my frustration towards an unacceptable event which took place at Rarotonga Hospital on December 31, 2010, New Year’s eve, from 4pm onwards. At the maternity ward outside the canteen (I think it is), there was a party held there. They were nursing staff, senior midwives, registered nurses from other […]

Time to kick some butts

Tuesday 11 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to congratulate Minister Teariki Heather for taking a tough stance on the work attitudes of public servants and the need to improve their work effort. As someone who has worked closely with many public servants over a wide range of government ministries and departments for over 20 years, I can […]

Roasting his own coffee

Tuesday 11 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

One thing this picture says about Neil Dearlove – master coffee roaster, barista and The Caf proprietor – is that he has a keen sense of humour. Not many coffee vendors the world over would be brave enough to advertise ‘rotten food and lousy coffee’, but in Neil’s case it’s just a matter of wearing […]

Vaikai have grounds for grievance

Tuesday 11 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A TV and your news items on the Pa Ariki palace land ceremony invited this opinion. Te Mata O Te Enua, Section 10A1, and adjoining lands in Ngatangiia are some of the lands I am familiar with from research on the Land Court and its works and practice from 1901 to 1954. I […]

Kata - January 11, 2011

Tuesday 11 January 2011 | Published in Kata

Leaders' energy a good omen

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“What a breath of fresh air last week to hear candidly from three of our new cabinet members, who’re obviously full of energy, attitude and ready-to-go thinking,” a smoke signaller writes. “Obviously our new leaders haven’t gone to sleep over the festive season, and their brains have been fully engaged. It’s not just good copy […]

Apology negated

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Apology accepted from June Hosking (January 8) but why nearly negate it by long-winded introspection and explanation? Why not just accept that some people on the planet do things differently and some people do things without ulterior motive – they do it because they feel happy doing it. Provided it isn’t obscene, or […]