Opinion

Kata - July 7, 2010

Wednesday 7 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Norman, the door is open

Wednesday 7 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor In response to Norman George telling us that he wants to stay with CIP but is having a hard time working with our executive this is what happens when he cannot get things his way. To say that Peto is a winning candidate is a guess until the election is held. Everyone goes […]

A right to challenge credentials

Wednesday 7 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I thank those who have commented on my previous letter to you, and I am marveling to see that it has certainly grabbed and has attracted a strong following from Cook Islanders living abroad, who have taken interest in the political circle at home. People will always have different interpretations to any scenario, […]

More women lawmakers

Wednesday 7 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller has what Blackadder’s Baldrick might call ‘a cunning plan’… Those frustrated CIPs in Murienua should pay their $2 to the Demo party and make sure Angie Tuara wins the Demo seat over James Beer this Friday. Yes, that’s allowed: how do you think those old fogies have stayed in power for so […]

Kata - July 6, 2010

Tuesday 6 July 2010 | Published in Kata

The perfect political candidate

Tuesday 6 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A friend of mine has repeatedly waggled his finger at me. “James! James!” he says. “You just can’t talk all these people into going to puna meetings – you have to tell them who to vote for, too!” He’s dead wrong. At least mostly dead wrong. It’s none of my business whose name […]

Signaller a mischief maker

Tuesday 6 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

There were just two empty seats on the inaugural Air New Zealand Sydney-Rarotonga flight on Sunday, one of our readers says in response to the smoke signaller yesterday who provided a booking screenshot to suggest there was plenty of availability on the flight across all classes. “And yes, Air New Zealand sells whatever they can […]

Kata - July 5, 2010

Monday 5 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Fun and games

Monday 5 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, More fun and games in Avatiu. Peto needs to know that behind the executive committee there is a ‘master puppeteer’ who would rather another ‘Henry’ stands in your stead. As for the other independents, I hope splitting the votes is just the beginning of your attempt to end party politics. Murienua is long […]

Allsworth's last comment

Monday 5 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This will be my last public comment and reply to Sholan Ivaiti’s letter to the editor, concerning matters surrounding his ‘alleged criminal’ accusation against me. Firstly, let me just thank all my colleagues, friends and families both here and abroad for your calls of support and bewilderment. I can personally assure you all, […]

Plea to mend CIP problems

Monday 5 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am pleading with the Cook Islands Party to be of one mind. I know you, Papa Rau Nga, president of the Cook Islands Party, you are a person that does not bend down to nonsense or to manipulation causing splits to happen in constituencies. But news has been made known to me […]

Seats still available

Monday 5 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Attached is a screenshot from the Air New Zealand website taken by a smoke signaller this past Saturday and e-mailed to us showing availability across all fare classes on the inaugural Sydney to Rarotonga flight which touched down here early yesterday morning. It is definitely not fully booked as claimed by Tourism CEO Carmel Beattie, […]

Kata - July 3, 2010

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Where are the players?

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you ‘Rugby Union DMD’ for responding to my letter, it’s a pleasure. To clarify the issue, I am not blaming the rugby league organisation or anyone else. They are doing an excellent job. My real concern is we do not have the senior players to cater for our A & B teams […]

MP for life?

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

It seems the writer is in a world of his own, what a ‘Clown’. The reason we are in such a mess is because of that stupidity. The traditional title has nothing to do with ‘papaa politics’, but everything to do with ‘traditional politics’ and never the two shall meet. Your voters, if they have […]

Death to democracy

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There was a report in the Cook Islands Times of June 25 that new guidelines are being introduced by a Democratic Party Policy committee for the Democratic Party to bring more discipline and accountability to MPs’ actions. This is the same Jim Marurai Democratic Party that said in 2006 that they were going […]

Ivaiti alarmed

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to and clarify recent articles in the media concerning my complaint regarding the Audit Director Paul Allsworth. The Toagate Audit report has nothing to do with my complaints. That is a separate issue, and will eventually run its course when Parliament sits. A clever diversion or smokescreen by Mr […]

Who's calling the pot black

Saturday 3 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“How much was Sholan paid and how was he appointed as Financial Secretary?” a smoke signaller asks following former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti’s allegations of misconduct against the Director of Audit, Paul Allsworth (see the past couple of days’ editions of CI News). “The coconut wireless says that he was not number one on the […]

Kata - July 2, 2010

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Nothing to do with league

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To answer Papa Simiona’s letter yesterday in regards to rugby union, the answer is very simple. Invest the $120,000 plus the Cook Islands Rugby Union receives annually from IRB to develop the local competition instead of spending it on their high flying executives and so called overseas coaches and TAs (technical advisors). The […]