Opinion

A big thank you

Tuesday 20 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My husband and I recently spend two weeks on beautiful Rarotonga. We still miss it as we sit back here in Dunedin thinking about those warm tropical lagoons and golden sunsets. We loved your country and can’t wait to visit again. We would also like to thanks one young man who helped us […]

Waiting on Wong answers

Tuesday 20 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I am simply an interested tax payer seeking some answers re the status of the Chris Wong investigation. We have previously had brief statements from former Police Commissioner Tasker and his successor Tetava neither of which gave any indication of a timeline for the ex head of tourism to appear in court and […]

Support loan opinions

Tuesday 20 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

In relation to the issue over whether there was a conflict of interest in the granting of business support loans from government to businesses owned by the former Minister of Finance, Sir Terepai Maoate and former Associate Minister, Terepai Maoate Jnr, a smoke signaller writes: “More than one government department has retained private solicitors to […]

Kata - July 19, 2010

Monday 19 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Independents won't make a difference

Monday 19 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The current political drama that’s hovering over our nation at the moment is a joke; this is just one fair description for it. But we seem to accept this sudden turbulence as our country’s new political way of life, and so promoting, and inspiring every Dick and Harry to individually join in this […]

Telecom questioned over charges

Monday 19 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Telecom monopoly’s rip-offs continue unabated with many broadband users being charged outrageous fees for exceeding their broadband data caps. We can for the moment refrain from commenting on the fiscally punishing charges for “excess” data usage – charging up to 20 cents a megabyte for data that even they sell in their […]

Kata - July 17, 2010

Saturday 17 July 2010 | Published in Kata

'Special' vote causes distress

Saturday 17 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It distresses me to read on the front page of yesterday morning’s Cook Islands News that my “special” vote in yesterday’s Democratic party run-off in the Tupapa electorate will not be counted, and will be thrown away. To put the record straight, I make the following points: Firstly, I registered as an elector […]

Greetings from PNG

Saturday 17 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Greetings from Papua New Guinea – The Land of the Unexpected. It is nice to have read of the various news items published in your paper. The paper is very selective of new articles and I personally found that quality of reporting is of high standard. I marvel the publicity of social events […]

Political circus continues

Saturday 17 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Like many voters I find the rules being applied by both major parties to the candidate selection process to be unbelievable. The central committees of both parties have been guilty of applying double standards-one rule for their favoured candidates another rule for the challengers. We have seen farcical ‘electorate members meetings’ held-Maoate the […]

Don't let the dogs out

Saturday 17 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

The news article yesterday about five dogs being poisoned in Tupapa and the finger being pointed at goat farmers, drew two swift responses. One smoke signaller emailed in from Tupapa and began by quoting SPCA president Alistair Macquarie’s comment yesterday that “These farmers need to get off their butts and do something to stop their […]

Maggie wants Tangi, not Tupa

Thursday 15 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I have just read the newspaper article ‘Maggie wont vote’,” a smoke signaller writes in reference to the front page article yesterday about the run-off today between John Tangi, Nooroa Tupa and William Framhein for the Democratic Party candidacy in the constituency of Tupapa. “Sure Maggie won’t vote, but he’s been around Tupapa homes campaigning […]

Kata - July 15, 2010

Thursday 15 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Not a good look, Graham

Thursday 15 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Oh dear it’s not a good start for Mauke demo candidate Hugh Graham. The NZ Herald recently reported former councillor Graham is under pressure to repay the public salary paid to him while he was absent campaigning in the Cook Islands. Mayor Len Brown added the absentee councillor’s overall performance was not entirely […]

Plea for more convenient flights

Thursday 15 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I was fortunate to be one of the passengers on the inaugural flight NZ49 from Sydney to Rarotonga on Sunday, July 4 and returned home on flight NZ46 on Saturday July 9. Having visited the Cook Islands before, this is a great incentive for Australians to conveniently travel to your destination. The wristband, […]

Get rid of the confusion

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I don’t know whether I am speaking tongue in cheek, (I thought it was ear in teeth, but it might be foot in mouth, or hole in head), but here is what I have been thinking. We used to have our traditional leaders, our ariki, our aronga mana, but it was decided that […]

Partial to eclipses

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“People overuse the word ‘awesome’ these days,” a smoke signaller texts to 188, “but Sunday morning’s partial solar eclipse was just that: AWESOME!!” SmokeSignals: Agreed. Adding to the surreal atmosphere was the crowing of a number of island roosters which must have had their body clocks temporarily confused by the sudden darkness! Many viewers watching […]

Kata - July 13, 2010

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Kata

What have you done to help?

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor For someone like Teuira Ka to brag about his passion for politics is a sick joke. He reminds me so much of an empty vessel that makes so much noise, te pupu vaa koia tikai. The question that come to mind is this, what has he done for the Cook Island people? We […]

Website praised

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor You are doing a very good webpage. Seems that you have found the right format. Good on you. Thank you. Volker Goebel Germany