Opinion

Kata - January 5, 2011

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Kata

Catholics aware of Xmas meaning

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, June Hosking’s letter about the true meaning of Christmas (December 30) is really a thinly veiled attack on the Catholic Church in the Cook Islands. She presumes to suggest that: 1. Catholic Cook Islanders are unaware of the Living God; 2. Catholic Cook Islanders are not practicing Christians because they use, among other […]

Kata - December 31, 2010

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Stop fooling ourselves

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Let’s all have a new year’s resolution that we will no longer fool ourselves that we give a flying ‘f’ about the environment. Chainsaw madness at Nikao without so much as a sneeze from the Environment Service. Ports Authority ‘moving’ the cruise ship jetty and getting ready to tender for construction before the […]

Be wise – seek sound advice

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’ve just read yesterday’s story on the HIV patient. Those concerned would be well advised to read the Public Health Act which prohibits disclosure except under specified conditions: “No person may disclose to anyone or make any statement as to whether or not a person is, was, may be or may have been […]

Listen to your legal advice

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, That the Minister of Health is even considering releasing the name of the first person in the Cook Islands diagnosed as HIV positive is highly disappointing. We have had years of education through TV, newspaper, radio, road signs, schools and community events telling us that the way to protect the community is to […]

$2m jetty is justified

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Ports Authority would like to respond to Richie Rich’s letter to the editor published in your paper of December 30. It is correct that Avatiu Harbour on completion would be able to cater for cruise ships up to 200 metres in length. Cruise ships more than 200 meters in length averaging 15 […]

Trees not a threat

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Stop the nutcase who ordered the chainsaw massacre of coconut trees at the Golf Club road as shown in your CINews photo on Wednesday, or we will be left with no more nu to drink on the island. Our parents taught us at an early age to plant trees that bear […]

Looking for a Christmas message

Thursday 30 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I was interested in your Christmas and New Year messages [see CI News Friday, December 24] from what I personally considered too many personalities,” a smoke signaller writes. “I wonder how many readers ploughed their way through all of them?” SmokeSignals: Many would have done so – reading other people’s thoughts and wishes is always […]

Kata - December 30, 2010

Thursday 30 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Fish traps should go

Thursday 30 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If reputable international scientists, who have conducted appropriate research, are now advising that the removal of the man-made fish traps and sediment build up in Aroko would greatly enhance the circulation of lagoon water in Ngatangiia, which in turn will significantly improve the quality of sea water in Muri lagoon, I struggle to […]

Sensing the real Xmas message

Thursday 30 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was recently asked if our church didn’t agree with nativity scenes. What a funny question I thought, of course they would be happy to see an artistic portrayal of Jesus’ birth. But then I realised where this conclusion may have come from when sitting in church Christmas morning, eyes drawn to a […]

Is $2m jetty needed?

Thursday 30 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If the soon-to-be constructed $30 million wharf development at Avatiu harbour is expected to be large enough to cater for visiting cruise ships, as mentioned by the Ports authority spokesperson in a recent newspaper article, why on earth is government committing a further $2 million towards the construction of a jetty in Arorangi? […]

Remove nuts, not trees

Wednesday 29 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“A new broom certainly sweeps clean, or should that be chain saw gang?” asks a smoke signaller. “The trouble with the area adjacent to the Golf Club this ‘broom’ swept is that there are NO coconut trees left! What sort of idiot would have authorised this clean-up? If there was a problem with tita, Aunty […]

Kata - December 24, 2010

Friday 24 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Reo Maori knowledge is here

Thursday 23 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I can see from your article on ‘Funding boost for Reo Maori’ [see yesterday’s CINews], why the previous commission failed,” a smoke signaller writes. “It simply did not engage the appropriate cross-section of the community. Where are the Kai Korero taunga, teachers of Te Reo, culture and performing arts, outer island reps etc? A non-Maori […]

Kata - December 23, 2010

Thursday 23 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Fight for rights

Thursday 23 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Harry Napa fighting for his rights, we the real local people say good on you to Papa Harry Napa and his granddaughter Ashley Wichman – fight for your rights, we can tell you now you have the support from the people. Don’t listen to these negative uneducated people who don’t […]

Floor crossing explained

Thursday 23 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is amazing how a number of CIP MPs and supporters have found where I am on the island, to not only know more about certain parts of my letter to you yesterday, but also to bad-mouth Norman George to me. I was not surprised however that all of them readily admitted to […]

No excuse for DVD piracy

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana to Mr/Mrs Anonymous.If you’re cheap, good on you, you’ll never get any better than being cheap. As for the unlucky one man cheering squad, who are behind fighting for their rights – maybe you should understand we are a massive family so we stick together as a family, which means we […]