Opinion

Where does the money go?

Wednesday 1 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read your article on the departure tax and a great appreciation goes out to the people voicing their opinions on the $55 departure tax charged to every departing adult. I myself visited the islands and was quite disgusted with your terminal after the huge amount of money spent on it and correct […]

Kata - September 1, 2010

Wednesday 1 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Road works are 'political'

Wednesday 1 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Tama Tuavera’s claim that road works currently being carried out around the island especially in Matavera is not linked to politics is a joke given that the elections is only three months away. Does he think that we, the voters are nave and stupid? It is so obvious that the road works has […]

'Unfounded'

Wednesday 1 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have just returned from an eight-day holiday in Rarotonga and had the pleasure of doing three days of diving with Pacific Divers. I was on the dive trip which received allegations that the dive boat skipper was harassing whales. These allegations are absolutely unfounded. I make the following comments in support of […]

Where's the commonsense?

Tuesday 31 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Recently, Uncle Bob alluded to the airport security people in Rarotonga as having no commonsense. Sir Geoff was right on the money when he mentioned that commonsense had gone missing in NZ as well. It was not that long ago, the equally non commonsense airport security people in Aus, subjected Sir Michael Somare […]

Eaa ta korua I rave?

Tuesday 31 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Ki Te Editor, Inangaro au i te ui atu kia Teuira Ka, e Piri Nicholls e, koai raua e akariro nei e, na raua e akaapa atu i ta Akatokamanava ikianga ia Hugh Graham ei candidate no te Demo i Mauke? Eaa ta korua i rave ana no teia Enua? Te karanga nei te autara […]

Chuffed with Japanese offer

Tuesday 31 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We were chuffed to see in the newspaper that Japan is offering aid for solar systems to be set up in the Cook Islands. Reading Garth Henderson’s comment that Japan is a world leader in this area confirms our own experience that we thought might be worth sharing with those looking into alternative […]

Harbouring no secrets

Tuesday 31 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A big congrats goes out to Bim Tou and the Ports Authority for being at the forefront of a new era of transparency in our small country. They’ve invited the media to attend the bid opening for the Avatiu Harbour Development at 2.30pm next Monday, with the deadline for bids being half an hour beforehand […]

Kata - August 31, 2010

Tuesday 31 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Ngatangiia numbers game

Monday 30 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, “Johnny come too late” did not complete their mathematical exercise in their letter because combined, Mann Short, Iaveta Short and Stephen Peyroux have 20 per cent of the voters who cast their vote – despite the intimidation by the Maoate committee who pressured many voters not to attend the voting. How many voted […]

Thanks for petition support

Monday 30 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’d like to acknowledge Mr Ka’s letter (‘Support for Rule’s call’, Aug 19), in which he mentions support of a much needed reciprocal child support agreement between the Cook Islands and New Zealand. Indeed, there are many aspects of our community where positive contributions can be made to help our people, and our […]

Why the young leave

Monday 30 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I agree with Norman George’s comments that you can’t deny the right of young people to leave for an overseas experience, and who will be stupid enough to get in the way of our youth. Okay, that said, let’s try and look at some of the reasons for leaving. First of all they […]

Research helps protection

Monday 30 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a Cook Islands resident living in Rarotonga, I am currently involved with the Cook Islands Whale Research Project. It is a pleasure working alongside Nan Hauser. Up until now, I didn’t know anything about whales and working with Nan on the project has taught me about migration, behaviour patterns, genetics, whale song […]

Uncle's balancing act

Monday 30 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Would the anonymous smoke signaller whinging about Uncle Bob in last Wednesday’s paper, at least have a pen name,” suggests ‘Uncle Bob’. “Maybe that signaller had a point to make and the reason for not putting a name to paper is to ensure that it is not misunderstood to be a personal attack. If the […]

Short explains run off voting

Saturday 28 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Mann Short won the Democratic Party run off in Ngatangiia against Iaveta Short and Steven Peyroux held on Wednesday night in a first-past-the-post single round of voting. CI News had previously been told that there would be a second round of voting if none of the participants got more than 50 per cent – and […]

We're not puppets

Saturday 28 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the news interview with Teroro Totini on local TV last Friday August 20 regarding the decision that their Demo committee made nominating Maoate as the Ngatangiia candidate for the Democratic party. I believe that we are living in a democratic society and ruling with freedom of choices, […]

Results are a joke

Saturday 28 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, May I suggest to the three wannabes in Ngatangiia to stop making excuses, pack up your rubbish and go and do what you do best and leave politics alone. The results of the run-off are a big joke, Mann Short with only 8% of total votes in Ngatangiia, Iaveta 6% and Stephen 5%. […]

9/11 ignorance

Saturday 28 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Sir Geoffrey Henry’s removal from a Noumea-bound Air New Zealand flight for his terrorist remark made in jest brought a couple of critical comments by text. “Sir Geoffrey mentioned terrorism on a plane – hello! – what did he expect, red carpet and more bubbly? Shame on him, he needs to reflect back to Sept […]

Kata - August 28, 2010

Saturday 28 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Impressed with Pacific Divers

Friday 27 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’ve watched with interest the comments made back and forth about who is interfering with the whales. I have to say that I have dived with Pacific Divers on a few occasions and I was impressed with how tough they were about diver safety and also about protecting the underwater environment. As an […]