Opinion

Kata - July 2, 2010

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Kata - July 1, 2010

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Kata

A job for life

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor James Beer doesn’t understand anything about being an MP in the Cook Islands. When you are elected as an MP, it is just like becoming a titleholder, just like when you bite the pig’s ear. This position is yours for your life, it doesn’t matter if you get a bit loose upstairs or […]

Do something for our rugby

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Last Saturday, while I was watching the Tupapa vs Avatiu rugby union game, I was told that Tupapa could only field two teams because of the shortages of players. But in the end the coach managed to select a team from the reserve and the under 19 players to make up the A […]

Full investigation needed

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Re: Allsworth v Ivaiti, It may well be a “cheap parting shot” but we don’t know that. A full, independent and transparent investigation needs to take place. You see, five years ago, a high flying lawyer/politician also said words to the same effect. The likes of Allsworth, Ivaiti, Tetava, Franklin and Elikana paid […]

Accident could have been serious

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Just wondering if tourists are still being allowed to hire bikes before proving they can actually ride one and obtaining a bike licence?” a smoke signaller asks in a message to TXT188. “On Tuesday afternoon at the Island Car and Bike Hire beside Raro Cars we had a close encounter with a tourist who lost […]

Don't get lost in debt

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The time is now for bringing the Cook Islands out of debt. A lot of tourists were asking me, “Do you think that the Sheraton will ever be built and finished?” and as always my answer is “yes”. They ask when, and I say to them when I run for parliament. “How is […]

Is this a repeat of 2004?

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A government that cannot recognise and understand democracy and the rights of the people is a country with no status. Mr Editor, I’ve been following the various news articles on the happenings and the fighting among the two political parties, and the injustice that has been accorded to the poor people who put […]

New rappa exec making money?

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller phoned in these questions yesterday in relation to the Ruatonga Avatiu Panama Palmerston Atupa constituency, understandably referred to as RAPPA: “Why is the new RAPPA executive charging $5 to become a member when the Matavera and Nikao Cook Islands Party constituencies were charging $2 to become a member? What’s the extra $3 […]

Kata - June 30, 2010

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Good on you Wilkie

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Having watched the TV programme ‘Turama’ on Sunday night, I was very impressed with the comments from our Minister of Finance, Wilkie Rasmussen. You rectified a lot of areas of doubt that we as the taxpayers have had, and explained things very precisely giving us all a clearer picture of what is happening. […]

Young blood is what we need in politicis

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to both Teuira Ka and Maukean Heart regarding their comment on Hugh Graham. As a Maukean residing in Auckland, I am saddened, at the same time appalled, by their senseless comments. Their letters confirmed one thing to us all: we live and breathe in a society full of […]

Being a candidate 'a joke'

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller going by the name ‘A Victim’ writes on the Cook Islands Party candidate selection issue: “I can see Peto’s (Albert Nicholas’) point as he does not want to go through what the other CIP punas went through when they had their candidate selection where the CIP executives were misleading, confusing and couldn’t […]

Women called to enter politics

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read yesterday’s Cook Islands News with so much interest – from the classified advertisements taken out by the two major political parties for nominations of candidates by their various puna, to the new transparent process in the Cook Islands Party constitution. It is obvious that the voting public are now moving and […]

Kata - June 29, 2010

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Bikes not safe storage

Monday 28 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Visitors to the island must be educated to the fact that a motorcycle seat is not a door to a secure, hidden safe and valuables must not be left there while the bike renter goes snorkeling or tramping. Some thieves can pop a bike seat off in a few seconds and be off with the […]

Open, fair and honest runoffs

Monday 28 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Like most Cook Islanders, I’ve come to believe we must call for a systematic overhaul of the processes by which political parties nominate electoral candidates and that this overhaul is urgent. I am watching the “nomination and runoff saga” with an odd blend of amusement and concern. I admit it’s mildly entertaining to […]

Add VAT, deduct PAYE

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

One of our readers pointed out the “silliness” in Andrew and Melinda Ponga’s letter to the editor yesterday where it was suggested it was often necessary to borrow from a bank to pay taxes. “Not so,” says our smoke signaller. “You add the VAT on to the sale price of your goods and you deduct […]

Mama love

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, First I’d like to congratulate Mama Mau on her receipt of the MBE. This is one recipient who has truly earned this honour. Always putting others first, welcoming those of us who come from overseas. A great ambassador for the Cook Islands. Well done mama; my family will never forget your kindness, love […]

How to get a cash injection

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A suggestion for Tav’s and maybe other retail businesses that works well in Waikiki and gives them a cash injection to pay the bills! Have a one day, genuine 50% off ALL stock sale, at the back road shop. Give the local femmes an opportunity to purchase a nice new dress for their […]