Opinion

Kata - August 27, 2010

Friday 27 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 […]

Reduce MP numbers

Friday 27 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When it comes to much needed political reform, I strongly support the view that the number of seats in Parliament must be reduced significantly to better reflect the country’s diminishing population. Having more seats in Parliament does not lead to better governance but in fact a greater drain on the public purse. In […]

Cunning plan

Thursday 26 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, You would think by now Uncle Bob would be used to anything the so-called ‘reluctant’ politician/PM comes up with. Firstly, he was trying to avoid a ‘snap’ election and now we find out this one in November is actually a ‘snap’ election. There is no such thing as a technical ‘snap election’- this […]

Agreeing to some reforms

Thursday 26 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Reading your newspaper dated 24/08/10 it once again highlighted political reform. Yes, I do agree with the political reform to save the country millions of dollars but I object to some of the reforms mentioned in the newspaper. a) Direct election of the Prime Minister by all the voters. What is wrong with […]

The golden touch?

Thursday 26 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“If this were a fairy tale, Mr Junior Areai believes he has the Midas Touch!” a smoke signaller writes. “He goes into politics and stands as an independent in the Oneroa electorate! Mr Areai is gifted at getting close to powerful politicians and political hopefuls and once he associates himself with them, his touch reveals […]

Kata - August 26, 2010

Thursday 26 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Support for Arenikau MP

Thursday 26 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to forward my undivided support for Arenikau’s Member of Parliament, Hon Teina Bishop. As long as he maintains an alignment with the Cook Islands Party, I will continue to lend my support for him. I have followed his journey in politics with interest, and I for one have never doubted […]

How to repair puna run-offs

Thursday 26 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Tangata Vainerere from Pacific Legislature for Population and Governance is quite right – puna run-offs are a problem (see “Run-off under microscope”, page 8 in the August 23 edition of this paper). I can speak from firsthand experience – they are not being done correctly, and the consequences are far-reaching. Let me share […]

Kata - August 25, 2010

Wednesday 25 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Time for a change is now

Wednesday 25 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The inability of government to make sure that the continued water drainage problem along the main road directly across from Chilli’s Bar in the village of Tupapa is properly fixed is glowing testament of the dismal performance of the Demo government during the last four years in power. Every time it rains the […]

Run-off required by constitution

Wednesday 25 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The proposed run-off to decide the official candidate for the Democratic Party for the Ngatangiia constituency on Wednesday is based on the requirements of the constitution of the Cook Islands Democratic Party. Under article 17 (b) it states: “The Constituency Committee shall give sufficient public notice of the place, date, and time fixed […]

Raro's electric roads

Wednesday 25 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Before government spends too much time negotiating with TOA over the future of petroleum imports, it might not be a bad idea to get current on the pace of technology in regards electric vehicles,” a smoke signaller writes. “The biggest carmakers in the world are in a race to see who will take the biggest […]

Kata - August 24, 2010

Tuesday 24 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Put the tax in the fare

Tuesday 24 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write regarding your article about the possibility of reducing the departure tax. Yes, it does cause a lot of complaints, not least on TripAdvisor. But I really wonder why the tax is not incorporated with the air fare. The departure taxes in other countries such as Fiji and Norfolk Island and from […]

SPG Funds diverted for what?

Tuesday 24 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The news that there is a $300,000 dispute between the local sports association known as CISNOC and government comes as no surprise. Sir Geoffrey Henry’s statement in CI News on August 21 that CISNOC was asked to step in by the Pacific Games Council is an incredulous spin on the true happenings. We […]

Setting playground record straight

Tuesday 24 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, “For the record the Cook Islands Investment Corporation was never responsible for the upkeep and care of the Punanganui Market Playground. The timing of events in our minds was therefore as follows. On or about 10am on Tuesday morning last week I received a telephone call from a concerned parent regarding the state […]

Father spurns 'drivel'

Monday 23 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I also have no further desire to listen to Norman George’s insults, however I’m pressured to respond to his latest defamatory rant by the dozens of people who have approached me personally, by phone and, dare I say it, email. To simplify matters I shall put Norman’s verbatim comments in capitals. His letter […]

Teina rejects 'attack'

Monday 23 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I returned from two weeks in New Zealand to be advised that Norman George had personally named me in an article – referring to me as a “plastic maori”. I have since read the article in which he made his remarks and read my father’s reply and then Norman’s response to my father. […]

Dangers of dog poo

Monday 23 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Why can’t dog owners keep dogs at home, and look after their poo if they are out on a leash?” asks a smoke signaller. “The dogs roam our beaches depositing their poo wherever they please. Why do we have to, in a small island of Rarotonga, be plagued by dogs when we have a paid […]