Opinion

Privatising the market

Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Mike Tavioni is joking right? How will privatisation benefit the micro-business people that this market was originally set up for? Over the years, there has been a move away from its original purpose, which is to ‘help’ small Cook Islands business owners. Instead it’s become a major income earner for the Crown through […]

Open letter to candidates

Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It was gratifying to note that Teariki Matenga (CI News, Monday) recognises that many senior citizens who should be entitled to receive NZ superannuation by virtue of their NZ citizenship and the years they spent in NZ working and paying taxes, are presently denied the benefit because of two contentious, discriminatory clauses in […]

Battling the Man-of-War

Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Those watching vaka races from the comfort of local watering holes sometimes have small green bottles in their hands, but the paddlers battling it out on the water have another colour of bottle to watch for, the painful stinging bluebottle. The Rarotongan name for the Pacific Portuguese Man-of-War is tu-pakipaki-tai and the type found in […]

How solid is Demo front?

Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your issue of October 20 published a photo of the Demo candidates line up on page 7 and clearly it was an attempt by the demoralised Demos to present an apparent ‘solid front’. I wonder whether your readers had a good look at the photo. James Beer looks threatening and as big as […]

The biggest concern

Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With regards to all aspiring politicians CIP, Demo and Independents making policy statements, promise with regards to political reform, water tanks, pension increases, baby bonuses, health, environment etc. They have all missed the main if not the biggest concern – economic reform. What are they going to do about it? How are they […]

Unequal representation a major issue

Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, ‘Concerned’s’ letter in Wednesday’s paper suggests one of my ‘chicken carton’ ads is offensive to Outer Islanders. That was not my intention. I apologise to him/her and to any other reader who may have taken offence. I assure readers that before running my ads I have been careful to have others review them […]

Kata - October 22, 2010

Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Kata

Please leave it to the private sector

Thursday 21 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “The Cook Islands Investment Corporation was set up during the reform years to monitor the performance of state-owned enterprises and report their results to Cabinet and eventually the Parliament. One of the principles of the reform was to leave commercial activities to the private sector where they can best do the […]

Thankful for great support

Thursday 21 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am overwhelmed and thankful at the support and gratitude extended to me in your letters to the editor column on Monday, October 18 entitled ‘A great youth venture’ by Jinz George from Auckland. I for one would like to convey and acknowledge firstly, the honour and glory to our heavenly father the […]

Attacks on past governments unfair

Thursday 21 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to Tim Arnold’s letter of Thursday, October 14. I take my hat off to Tim for having the courage to stand politically and fight for his beliefs. It says a lot for the man as he is not of this land and must know he has an uphill battle. I too […]

Kata - October 21, 2010

Thursday 21 October 2010 | Published in Kata

Message to a pig thief

Tuesday 19 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What’s happening to our slice of paradise when people feel the need to not only steal from our visitors but from each other? Just this weekend, I heard some strange noises coming from our little piggery across from our home. I thought to myself this is weird as the pigs are screaming like […]

Why 'tama aito'?

Tuesday 19 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

E te tama Etita, Dear Editor, Tama Aito? Eaa te kino i to tatou uaorai reo? These words “Tama aito” (meant “Young warrior”)? What’s wrong with our own language? Te inangaro nei au, na roto i taau nuti pepa, i te ui atu i tetai uianga ki te au aronga marama o te Minitiri o […]

'Mischievous' letter worse than scaremongering

Tuesday 19 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Robin Bullen writes a good letter but he can be selective as he is being on this occasion so please indulge this letter’s length as I try to restore some balance and the reality. The establishment of our egg farming was with the full support and encouragement of the CIP and Democratic Party […]

On a roll online

Tuesday 19 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

With the general elections less than a month away, those who want to check their name on the main electoral rolls for the country’s 24 constituencies have another option to view the rolls, thanks to the Cook Islands Statistics Office’s website. Go to www.stats.gov.ck and scroll down the left hand index column to the heading […]

Call for house numbers

Monday 18 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to the Ivor Nicholas letter re the taxi driver unable to find the tourists accommodation …. what is so new? Recently an ambulance driver had trouble finding our place at 2 o’clock one morning. Tradesmen and electricity and telecom have trouble finding places for service calls. Goodness knows what problems police […]

Focus on health education

Monday 18 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Good luck to Teariki Matenga wanting to focus on health education in his political campaign [as an independent candidate for Titikaveka]. Let’s hope that if he gets in he can change the kinds of things that are currently happening in education such as a college HOD Physical Education and Health teacher […]

So proud

Monday 18 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s great to read the Cook Islands News weekly online, so proud of our Cook Islands Team that went to Delhi, to have my son-in-law represent the Cook Islands in boxing, Mathew Titoa, a true Samoan at heart, he was very proud to represent the Cook Islands, we farewelled him back to Raro […]

Kata - October 18, 2010

Monday 18 October 2010 | Published in Kata

A great youth venture

Monday 18 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia Orana! I love what the CICC are doing for the youth, by hosting a youth convention. Mr Henry is doing a great job. I believe that the church hold the answers of hope, but the answers will never come out if the church stay inside their four walls. Great stuff for moving […]