Opinion

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 […]

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 […]

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

What a pleasant surprise

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have not visited the Tupapa Health Clinic for many months now, but I recall the last time I went there. Whilst waiting to be called, I looked around the waiting room and down the corridor and thought “gee, this place looks almost exactly what it was ten years ago and they should […]

Tourism showing vision and direction

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last Thursday night, I attended Club Raro for the public launch of CI Tourism’s plans for the next few years. The new chief executive, Carmel Beattie, gave an excellent, informed and passionate presentation and the content was very comprehensive. At last, after years of gloom, drama and dreaming in the leadership of our […]

A heartfelt thanks to you all

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is with much sadness and many regrets that I returned to New Zealand last Friday to be with my wife, who is recovering from a series of heart attacks which were related to her heart transplant of 11 years ago. I arrived in Rarotonga some seven weeks ago to join Summerfield Systems […]

Hang in there Norman

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On page 7 in your September 17 edition, the photo and article featuring big Norm’s flip-flop in 2003, I must say that Norm may not be a party pooper, but he is definitely a party hopper and flip-flopper. Originally a Demo, now CIP, in1999 he launched the NAP party which he claimed that […]

Embrace our multiple identities

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last week, on radio talkback a number of people expressed concern over the announcement that Tim Arnold would stand as an Independent candidate for Tupapa-Maraerenga. Sadly, candidates and supporters from both political parties have used this to their advantage and sprung into action, instilling unnecessary fear into local people, for their own political […]

Come visit our islands

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“If you live in Detroit USA and are contemplating an island holiday, would you believe it would be less expensive for you to holiday in the Cook Islands rather than Hawaii?” a smoke signaller asks. “Well it is right now. A couple staying at a nice island location here returned to the USA on Saturday […]

Canada link suggestion

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Early in December my wife and I will be arriving to spend another enjoyable six weeks on the beautiful island of Rarotonga, this will make our fifth year that we have spent Christmas and New Year with you all. My only regret is that we cannot get a direct flight from Canada to […]

Call for integrity

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We call for leaders of ‘integrity’, but what does that mean? I read this description and thought it worth submitting for personal reflection and as we each contemplate who to bless with our vote. Ted Engstrom writes: “The world needs people who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character […]

Challenge issued to Punctillius

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is so great that you, Mr or Mrs Punctillius is quick to respond to my reply to your letter on September 15. The only sad thing is you don’t know what is right or wrong. You don’t even have the balls to reveal your name to the public. Why is it supplied […]

To tell or not to tell?

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I’ve just finished reading ‘Chris was Right’ in the smokies,” one of our readers writes this week. “I was thinking the same thing, but the other way around. Brett Porter informed us there was going to be a fuel shortage. Chris Vaile said it will be okay if we don’t ‘Panic Buy’. So everyone started […]

Kata - September 18, 2010

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Stop stealing our pawpaws

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the lowlife who is stealing pawpaws from my mother’s plot in Turangi – you must feel proud stealing the fruits of someone else’s labour. It must feel good sneaking up, no doubt in the dark of night and swiping the whole crop, which someone else has spent the time and energy in […]

Ideas for political reform

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

It is always important to first try to determine whether the problems have to do with the system or the people. If the political culture is corrupt, it will infect any system that is put in place. The success of a political system over time depends on historical context and events – once in operation […]

A case of the 'flip-flops'

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, An article in yesterday’s paper labels me as a ‘flip-flop’ on political reform. Check the background of the GPC and you will find they too suffer from ‘flip-flops’! They never had national seats and a nationally elected PM in their agenda – now they do! I went off the GPC sometimes in 2003 […]