Opinion
No more travel secrecy
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Prime Minister Henry Puna’s excellent decision to lift the secrecy surrounding the travel costs of Members of Parliament calls into question the integrity of all past governments that have fought to keep the ban in place. In Saturday’s CINews the PM said he didn’t know “why these figures have been so top secret…there’s nothing sensitive […]
Electrician complains
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, We the electrical contractors and independent electricians have some major concerns with the Energy Division, mainly its electrical inspection division and its performance to date. The situation as it goes: All electricians must pay a practising licence every year ($95), when we start a job. We must take out for builder’s temporary supply […]
'A good idea?'
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Ex-Finsec Sholan Ivaiti is still saying the government plan to nationalise the fuel industry by buying the Toa and Juhi depots (and forcing Triad out of business), was a good idea. The Heads of Agreement for the purchase of Toa was signed on December 4, 2008, two months ‘after’ BP (the owners of […]
Appalled at flak
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I’m rather appalled at the flak that Sholan Ivaiti is undeservingly receiving from mischievous characters that appear to be having hallucination episodes. Sholan in all respect was probably the youngest local HOM to take the most demanding job in the Public Sector. One only has to vet his academic achievements and realise the […]
I'd beg for mercy
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It really baffles me how someone who was obviously one of the more influential players in the Toagate scandal, which has subsequently cost this country tens of millions of dollars, can publicly state that he may now have the answers to getting the Toagate mess cleaned up but that this country would have […]
It's cultural vandalism
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The people of Ngatangiia are totally against the controversial proposal by the Muri Environment Care Group to remove the fish traps. This sentiment was obvious at a community meeting held in Avana Nui meeting house on Wednesday February 9 called by Kainuku Ariki to gauge the reaction of the community to the proposal […]
Healthy workforce, healthy nation
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Kia Orana e Tama Etita, Te inangaro nei au ite pau atu ite tuatua a Tamaiva Mataiapo ete katoatoa e manako nei e kia akaitiia mai te numero ote aronga angaanga ate kavamani! Teia taku uiaanga. Me taruna ua te angaanga e okotai rai tangata angaanga ite rave, i toou manako anga naai e rave? […]
Judging the jetty's blank sheet
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“This jetty project for Arorangi is certainly a bit confusing to us simple minded citizens,” a smoke signaller says. “The environmental impact assessment is done and at Environment Service waiting to be published and the $200,000 design is yet to be done. How on earth does the public judge the environmental impact of what is […]
Patrol boat proves itself
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I write to congratulate the crew and captain of Patrol Vessel Te Kukupa and all the brave local boat owners who participated in the successful rescue of Johnny George and Augustine Heather earlier this week. I add to that, Air Rarotonga who can always be counted on for reliable search and rescue missions. […]
Stop this nonsense
Friday 11 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The rationale used by Sholan to justify his getting re-employed as a HOM reeks of arrogance and is insulting to say the least. Why should this Government be obligated to employ a so-called highly educated and qualified Cook Islander when the actions of this very individual in the Toagate scandal have cost this […]
Why spend $20,000 on Manihiki trip?
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Did the Prime Minister’s office really need to spend $20,000 on airfares to take them to Manihiki for a three-day visit?” a smoke signaller asks. “The PM stated he wasn’t going to ‘sack’ anyone, yet I believe he’s in Manihiki now trying to sack the island secretary. Did it really need seven top officials to […]
Cut public servants
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, During the reign of the Demo Government I wrote to the editor many times just to remind them about the concern regarding the number of government employees which was far too many by about 500. They never did anything about it. Why? Because some of them were politically employed. It is a major […]
Beyond comparison
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, How dare Sholan Ivaiti compare his situation to that of the Hon. George Maggie, Member of Parliament for Tupapa-Marearanga. There are big, big differences between the two individuals and the situations that each have faced during their lifetimes. Firstly, George was not employed as the highest paid HOM when he made his mistakes. […]
History repeating
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The news that former finsec Sholan Ivaiti is privately negotiating for a HoM position comes as no surprise. It also proves that nothing has been learned by the failed finsec. He got the finsec job as a result of a private deal with his uncle, the since ousted Minister of Finance Terapai Maoate. […]
Why so long?
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I found myself reading through the story of the recent fishing boat emergency several times expecting to see an explanation why it took so long for Te Kukupa to get going. If I was hanging on to a jerry can 5km off the coast in a hostile sea in the middle of the […]
Govt wants all the building blocks
Wednesday 9 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller “wholeheartedly agrees” with Monday’s article ‘Scrapping of budget committee a grave mistake’. “I read today in NZaid’s ‘Currents’ magazine (Issue 16 Aug 2009) about New Zealand prime minister John Key’s visit to the Cook Islands. In reference to NZaid he said: ‘A vibrant and well-supported private sector is an essential building block […]
Finish the job, please
Wednesday 9 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Dear Editor, As both a taxpayer and motorist, it is my guess that a considerable amount of money, manpower and machinery have been used over the past three months or so to clean up the roadsides around Rarotonga, so as to improve drainage and prevent future roadside flooding during times of heavy rain fall. Fair […]
Keep on composing, creative people
Wednesday 9 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, There’s a simple way to avoid so-called “immoral” music so one’s saintly ears aren’t corrupted – it is to turn the radio off (February 8). The creative scene of the Cook Islands is very small so for someone to publicly describe one person’s artistic offerings as “shallow rubbish” is both hurtful and mean. […]
Weetbix 750gm recalled
Tuesday 8 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I am replying to the letter from ‘Weetbix Kid’ on Thursday, February 3. I would like to thank Weetbix Kid for bringing the issue of stale Weetbix to our attention. CITC always take customer complaints very seriously and have registers for this very purpose. Every complaint or customer issue is logged and reviewed […]
'Saints' song shallow rubbish
Tuesday 8 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, We were so embarrassed recently when listening to Radio NZ playing music of the Pacific. While some show off unique vocals, rich harmonies, strings and percussion skills, express love of homelands, and in the case of West Papua, cry for freedom, the Cook Islands offering was an abomination of a song which originally […]
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