Opinion

Kata - July 22, 2010

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Let's look for a solution

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Someone once said that “if you are able to state a problem it can be solved” and that’s just what the Minister of Finance did. For weeks he had been telling anyone who cares to listen about his difficult tasks of avoiding or minimising his budget deficit. Along came two “strayed” fishing boats […]

What have I done to deserve this?

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On the basis of allegations made by a convicted criminal, Junior Areai, I had the misfortune, in April 2008, to be charged in the Cook Islands longest running criminal trial. That man, Junior Areai was given immunity by the Crown so that he would give evidence against me – and lie even further. […]

Who else needed a loan?

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to a letter to the editor yesterday from Business Trade Investment Board member Mataauri Ruta titled ‘Don’t crucify father and son’, a smoke signaller texts in some questions: “Is the writer asking the public to overlook and at the same time condone the collective actions of the Maoates? Big deal if they qualified […]

A growing billboard island

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Another smoke signaller has voiced their concern over the number of billboards being plastered around Rarotonga lately, “especially those big ones advertising Highland Paradise and also the new yellow taxi signs. You can’t see the trees anymore because of all these boards, some of which are so big and ugly. On the roadside outside the […]

Thoughtless tourists not wanted

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Rea: Plea for more convenient flights. Your published letter from a Doug May in Australia shows exactly what we ordinary Aitutakians do not like in the attitudes of many a tourist coming here. He knows exactly (from what he writes) that there are many Aitutakians who oppose any commercial flights in or out […]

Kata - July 21, 2010

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Don't crucify father and son

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The big crowd was shouting “crucify him, crucify him”. This happened in a courtroom two thousand years ago. The shouting is still being heard here today but instead of ‘him’ now it’s ‘them’. “Crucify them crucify them”. On the front page of the Cook Islands News on Saturday, July 17 two gentlemen, a […]

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 20, 2010

Tuesday 20 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Patriotic and proud

Tuesday 20 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you to Patriotic and Proud Cook Islands Resident for taking the bait. I’m glad you like living in our homeland, you see that is all we have in this big wide world and we don’t mind sharing our country with you as long as you never forget that it is Cook Islands […]

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 […]