Opinion

Blackrock is full

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Firstly, I’d like to thank your Smoke Signaller for their inquiry. Our centre is completely FULL for term 1 of this school year, so we will be unable to accept any new enrolments. Children attend our centre through first putting their name on our Waiting List. There is often a long wait of […]

Humble apologies

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia Orana Elf. I humbly apologise to you and anyone else who thought I was attacking the Catholic Church. My intention was to ask all churches and Christians to consider the Christmas message they are portraying intentionally or unintentionally. In fact, we were confronted with the Christmas tree at a CICC church and […]

Logic must prevail

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana te iti tangata, Just got back from an awesome trip to Raro. The latest buzz words are “Our New Government” and “Video Pirates”. Yes we do have a new government, and a smart looking crew at that. Congrats to all and looking forward to a much brighter future. Video Pirates – […]

Bad signal

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The directors of CITV should be ashamed of themselves by putting out an extremely bad signal on the airwaves. All day and all night nothing but ‘weak or no signal’. It is impossible to watch and is better switched off. Advertisers should consider pulling their slots as there can’t be many people watching […]

Kata - January 7, 2011

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Kata

Don't point the finger

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the person who said, when it comes to the real work, Alfred Morris demands the police to do raids and prosecuting and then claims the glory, you must be sick. You are the type that had nothing better to do than write stupid remarks in the paper. I am also surprised that […]

Movies are 'cheaper here'

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Responding to Wednesday’s signaller who hoped that the clampdown on pirated video sales might lead to a reduction in the price of going to the movies, a smoke signaller writes to TXT188: “Why should Empire [Theatre] drop their prices? At the end of the day they still have to pay movie companies every time they […]

Kata - January 6, 2011

Thursday 6 January 2011 | Published in Kata

There's a feeling of betrayal

Thursday 6 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After my second letter, I received more visits, and repeated phone calls from disgruntled CIP caucus members and supporters. Their grievance has now changed to one of feeling betrayed and demeaned by their party leadership. They alleged they were led to believe that they owed their seats in Parliament to the CIP and […]

Live with the vehicle abuse

Thursday 6 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s front page article ‘Govt vehicle policy’: “While the Public Service Commissioner is asking heads of government ministries if they should hang up their car keys after hours, it would make just as much sense for the Ministry of Justice to ask the prisoners at Arorangi where the […]

Do not name

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, No one should have the right to play God with the person who has been diagnosed with HIV and they should not be named. It is shocking that the minister is even contemplating this or “getting legal advice” as he keeps saying. If the person is named it will open up so many […]

Don't blame fish traps

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I recall years ago when the Te Avarau Harbour at Avana was dredged. Much sand was taken out of it. Not long after that, two tourists were swept away by the fast current that occurred at high tide. To remove the fish trap as suggested is to allow swifter current through the lagoon […]

Publishing name 'irresponsible'

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am deeply concerned at the thought of this person who has contracted the terrible disease of HIV being disclosed for the public to persecute and believe this would be heinously irresponsible. HIV/Aids is a terrible affliction by itself to deal with, let alone having people who you do not know condemn you. […]

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 […]