Opinion

Always remember how we got here

Thursday 16 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, For the last year, at least, I read with amazement on how brainwashed our people have been and continue to be on the issues of fuel supply and political reform. One fuel supply company reminds me of what the school books taught me of what the Nazis did to the German people back […]

Bottom of the barrel?

Wednesday 15 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

One of our readers phoned the newsroom on Monday after seeing the TOA tanker pumping petrol – they checked, it wasn’t diesel – into Budget Rentals’ own tank in Avarua. Raising eyebrows and a callout to the tanker driver from passersby, and he went (finger to mouth) ‘shhhhhh…’ “Chris Vaile was right all along,” a […]

Kata - September 15, 2010

Wednesday 15 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Cut our cake to size

Wednesday 15 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The debate should not be about how rich (or thick) the icing is on top of the cake, it should be about how the ingredients are combined and organised in the body of the cake. I would like to throw out a provocative question. Is the Westminster system – based on the English […]

Humbled by Arnold's plan

Wednesday 15 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was so amazed and humbled to read Tim Arnold’s political plan for upgrading the Cook Islands’ Constitution if he becomes the MP for Tupapa. This is what the other political advocates and current politician should be dealing with – the moral issues and sensible thing to do for the country. I hope […]

No show by MPs says a lot

Wednesday 15 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The GPC forum for change was an interesting meeting that demonstrates just how little the sitting MPs really care about what you think – they don’t show up! But first, kudos to Robert Wigmore for his attendance and participation. Teina Bishops super brief appearance allowed no questions from the public so I hope […]

Firing back at big Norm

Tuesday 14 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Amazing to see and hear Big Norm (Norman George) on Turama the other evening, especially having a go at the Group for Political Change’s reform initiative, saying it was ’not researched, not thought out, not long term…kneejerk reactions’. By your own admission Norm you have had 27 years to get things […]

Kata - September 14, 2010

Tuesday 14 September 2010 | Published in Kata

How a democracy works

Tuesday 14 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On Wednesday, September 8 I attended the GPC meeting and there I asked the candidates: “Would you still run for parliament if the pay was to be reduced from $50,000 to $3000 per year and all the perks wiped?” A few said yes but most were evasive using arguments like “we would not […]

So just what is political reform?

Tuesday 14 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your feasts of political reform editorials invited opinions. Those championing it appeared to be devoid of sufficient knowledge and proper understanding of what a political ‘reform’ really is; its purposes and essential paradigms. What you reported those saying was not political ‘reform’ but electoral, parliamentary and or economic reform? They are neither one […]

Referendum or no referendum?

Tuesday 14 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To hold a referendum asking the people of the Cook Islands, for the reduction of the numbers of Members of Parliament, the answer will definitely be the affirmative. Who, and how, will make the decision to make reduction possible? To the writer, there is no need for a referendum for this, because we […]

Beautification contracts all MP related

Tuesday 14 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to the letter from Rouru Tangatapoto regarding the Titikaveka Beautification contract, my letter was not a personal attack on him and his private business but it is an attempt to reveal how these beautification contracts are awarded and to see if the decisions are biased and political. The tender was awarded […]

Beautification not political

Monday 13 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the letter in the paper of September 2 about the Titikaveka beautification contract. The beautification programme is an opportunity for the community to come together and take ownership and clean its own village, ownership of the programme belongs to the village and not to a handful of […]

Hey politicians, who's the silly one now?

Monday 13 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Why do politicians keep repeating ‘We have to keep it simple so the public can understand’?” a smoke signaller asks. “Most of us can balance our chequebooks and don’t keep losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process. Most of us don’t keep asking the same questions for 12 years in a row over […]

Kata - September 13, 2010

Monday 13 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Children our greatest asset

Monday 13 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to support Moana Rule’s letter and petition for a reciprocal Child Support Agreement between the Cook Islands and NZ. Like Moana, I know firsthand what she is and has been going through. My daughter also is a victim of abandonment. The lack of commitment, inconsistency and irresponsible behaviour of the absent […]

Mitiaro 'not supporting'

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Mitiaro is one of the outer- islands recommended to fall into the proposed referendum on “Seat Reduction”. Mitiaro candidate (we await his corroboration on this) may have exposed his support to GPC ( Letter to the Editor Tuesday September 7), but we still see Mitiaro being represented not as a combined but an […]

Feeble excuses

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This government’s feeble excuses for the lack of effort to improve the dreadful state of the two main roads that encircle the main island of Rarotonga is pathetic to say the least. If anything, the continued failure of Ministry of Works to budget for the full maintenance costs of Rarotonga’s roads year after […]

Pa Ariki: It's time for change

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As we move towards the forthcoming elections, all Cook Islanders must seriously take stock of the path we have travelled and the successive governments we have had to live under before choosing who they wish to lead them into the future. I say lead because if the last 10 years is anything to […]

Main road ramp danger

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “The new-look Tupapa Nui-o-Ou meeting house looks good, but some questions need to be asked about the brainiacs behind the construction of the wheelchair ramp in the front of the building. My 10-year-old son pointed out to me that someone on a wheelchair can end up in the middle of the […]