Opinion

Al Atas responds to articles

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My name is Michael Cahill, and I am the Director of Foreign Affairs for the Al Atas Group and I report directly to the Chairman of the Group Sheikh Dr Muhammad Adnan Al Atas. I am responding in an open Letter to the Editor to recent articles and comments made in the Cook […]

Carr dumping unjustified

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, From what I’ve been hearing through the coconut wireless, Kevin Carr still has no idea why he was dumped as Acting Financial Secretary. The termination came without warning and without valid reasons why. Very unfortunate for Mr Carr and this country. Surely both Mr Carr and the wider public of this country deserve […]

Tell me what you are about

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am a 27-year-old, and have lived here all my life except for the seven years I spent in New Zealand at Auckland University and then working for an international company to further my education and obtain my Chartered Accountant certificate. The other night I was approached by a candidate of my village, […]

Loss will see votes cross

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

The winner of yesterday’s run-off to select a candidate to represent the Democratic Party in the Ngatangiia constituency in the November 17 general election will have a huge uphill battle to consolidate the Demo votes in the next 48 days. The divisions run so deep that prior to the run-off at least one of the […]

Kata - September 30, 2010

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Spurned habitats 'would be ready'

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Following Cyclone Pat’s path of destruction through Aitutaki a little over seven months ago – and with the new cyclone season a month away – a smoke signaller writes: “None of the replacement houses being built on Aitutaki are even close to being finished except for the show house which finally has walls and windows. […]

Kata - September 29, 2010

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Why do our youth leave here?

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Where are our youth today? It looks as though they are all migrating overseas and foreign workers are coming in to replace them. Why is this? It’s because of the low income they receive at the end of the week. The lowest paid New Zealand job wage is five times higher than (the […]

Are they all Demo members?

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

There’s been a flurry of activity in Ngatangiia in the past weeks as the two contenders vying for the Democratic Party candidacy and their committees have been chasing as many potential voters as possible to ensure they are fully paid-up members of the party. The $2 membership fee (closes at 12 noon today apparently) means […]

Kata - September 28, 2010

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Thanks to community, police

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, For the last two years I have been a part of the Cook Islands Police as part of a continuing development programme between the Cook Islands Police, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Aid. My time has unfortunately come to an end and I would like to say thanks and make some comments […]

Praise for Tereora and teachers

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to some of the implicit concerns raised about our schools in the Cook Islands, I would like to state my experience. My son came to Tereora College in 2008, after completing his Level 1 NCEA Certificate with Merit in New Zealand. At Tereora he completed his Level 2 Certificate with Merit, […]

Where does the fat batch go?

Monday 27 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in response to the article ‘Palm apologises for fat batch’ in last week’s CINews: “McCallum Industries (Palm Corned Beef) states ‘Regular Palm Corned Beef is not a mass produced product and specific recipes are applied to our various markets. The product we produce for the Cook Islands has a lower fat […]

Kata - September 27, 2010

Monday 27 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Taking the happy from valley

Monday 27 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s a Sunday morning in the valley and the peaceful tranquility of our quiet neighbourhood is broken by the ranting and ravings of the ‘cult’ next door. Prior to this ‘cult’ moving into our neighbourhood we used to enjoy the peace and quiet. They have taken to annoying us even during the week […]

Take referendum seriously

Monday 27 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your news item ‘Referendum is on’ published September 10, 2010, must have pierced the hearts of many Cook Islanders. They would have asked themselves too, why the Government stooped to the lobbyists whose ravings-on about referendum are opined not only to be erroneous, but also unmeritorious. A referendum of the kind announced is […]

Vancouver flight dreamin'

Saturday 25 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A Canadian writing from the capital of the province of British Columbia says one of his dreams will come true if a direct flight operates between Vancouver and the Cook Islands. Ray Powell from Victoria, BC (“near Vancouver!”) says travelling to Rarotonga via Los Angeles in the United States “is a royal pain!” Cook Islands […]

Kata - September 25, 2010

Saturday 25 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Roads and health

Saturday 25 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m a frequent visitor to your beautiful island country who regularly keeps up with the Cook Islands news online. I’ve read of two seemingly different topics, roading upgrades and health concerns about obesity, and would like to suggest that these two issues actually are related. The beauty of the scenery driving around the […]

Punch a 'cheap shot'

Saturday 25 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the Avatiu Premiers rugby player ‘A much closer eyewitness’, I can only say nonsense. You saw what you wanted to see, not what happened. We have a video of the event. We know what happened. We know Emile Mamanu was legally rucking at a player who was playing the ball, not “nowhere […]