Opinion

Carr's removal, last nail in coffin

Saturday 25 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Since his appointment in March it is common knowledge that Kevin Carr has been doing a very good job as acting financial secretary, making big strides to improve the overall accountability and transparency of public financial management and, in the process, ensuring that the country’s financial situation is improved for the long term […]

Supporter hits back

Friday 24 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I think it’s very unfair of you to print the letter from ‘Ngatangiia Local’ in your newspaper dated 23 September 2010, especially when Sir Terepai and Mann Short are just about to go through a run off. I hope you would give me the same opportunity to set the record straight with the […]

Wall has health benefits

Friday 24 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes tongue-in-cheek: “The Small Wall of China recently installed in the courthouse has two admirable qualities, clearly designed to enhance the health of us all. When a member of the public rings to speak with someone, the receptionist cannot see if the person is at their desk. This means that the receptionist […]

Advance voting goes ahead

Friday 24 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

After much opposition from the Ngatangiia Democratic Party committee, advance voting for next week’s Short-Maoate candidate run-off has finally been given the green light. Despite strong lobbying from Mann Short’s team to permit advance voting, the Ngatangiia committee was against it on the grounds that it would complicate the run-off. Short is of the view […]

Electronic edition under change

Friday 24 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I look forward to reading your on line edition on a weekly basis, however over the past two weeks the standard of electronic publication has slipped. I could understand if this was a deliberate effort to encourage payments by reducing service, but I suspect it is not that, but just poor service by […]

Arnold quality needed

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Since the day you published my recent letter, I received numerous phone and skype calls and emails from readers there and abroad. Some, especially from the Tupapa electorate, admonished me that the MP for Teenui-Mapumai, Mr Norman George was not the only person who has made ‘informed and sensible’ views on the ills […]

Amid the noise and haste

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After reading June Hosking’s letter on the qualities that make exemplary leaders, I am prompted to mention Mike Tavioni’s excellent translation of Desiderata on the TV the other night, which also has a message on leadership. In Maori Desiderata makes fine poetry. Desiderata also serves as a guide for living a fulfilling life […]

Ngatangiia decision very important

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The upcoming run-off vote for the Demo candidate in Ngatangiia is the most important that our nation has ever faced. As a born and bred Ngatangiia person, I am hoping the people in our village think of our whole nation first before they vote Sir Terepai Maoate in again. If he wins over […]

Just having a ball

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in response to the recent article ‘The last waltz looms’ published prior to the Tereora College Ball: “In the articles about the school ball it clearly says that males cannot wear black skinny jeans, but then in the ‘Top Ten Tips’ for the ball it says something clearly different. It suggests […]

Tourism plans the same

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Over the past six months I have read with interest the articles on tourism. They range from the new appointment of staff, the leaving of the old staff members, the arrival of a dog, (Please, how is that front page news?) the media spin on the success of the Australian flight, the spin […]

Kata - September 23, 2010

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Announce policies

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Through your column may I request both the Democratic and CIP Parties to publicly announce their policies firstly on import substitution and protection from those trade practices designed to strengthen monopolistic agenda, enhance market power and eliminate competition and, secondly, whether they intend to resist the lobbying which has seen the deferral of […]

What makes a good MP?

Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have been reading and hearing with interest the various views expressed on political reform, well, more so only on the numbers of MPs we should be having in Parliament. I see also that there are lot of members of the public willing to put their names forward to make changes to how […]

Survivor Cooks least challenging

Wednesday 22 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

After 21 seasons of the reality TV series Survivor, a website has chosen Survivor Cook Islands as the least challenging. BuddyTV.com staff writer Ben Watson writes: “The season that divided tribes up by race didn’t seem to have too many challenges location-wise. There was a significant amount of in-water challenges (including an awesome zip line […]

Kata - September 22, 2010

Wednesday 22 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Thanks Smiley

Wednesday 22 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations and meitaki maata to Minister Smiley and his team for the great work done on the water problem in Tepuka. For donkey’s years, Tepuka has been the lost city of Rarotonga when it comes to water but goodness gracious me, the good Samaritan has arrived and for the first time in the […]

Forum questions to be asked

Wednesday 22 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Some questions for the next forum on political change. These are in response to repeated comments during the previous two forums. 1. Why SHOULD taxpayers fund a politician’s contribution to funerals, weddings and haircutting’s? Just so we can buy them more votes? The rest of us simply do what we can afford to […]

Gukisuva reacted to 'dirty' play

Wednesday 22 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to the article in yesterday’s paper regarding Mr Gukisuva and the unfortunate incident in the rugby grand final match. Let me first state that I do not wish to take anything away from Arorangi’s win, as they indeed scored points and took penalty opportunities when it counted, and overall played a […]

Solar panel chasing!

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A slightly exasperated smoke signaller writes: “Upon enquiring about the Japanese solar power aid offer I hear that the procedure is that ‘project proposals are put to the Energy Department, which pass them to the Renewable Energy Committee, then to the National Sustainable Development Commission, who send them to Cabinet, who approve and pass them […]

Kata - September 21, 2010

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Kata