Opinion

Great news to hear

Thursday 17 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It was lovely to hear when I woke up this morning on Australian national radio in Melbourne that the Cook Islands are cleaning up their marine life and much more marine life has returned to the local waters. As we have travelled to Cook Island for our honeymoon in 2006, I thought it […]

Questions on web access

Thursday 17 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Telecom seems to receive almost weekly criticism of its ‘services’ to the public. I’ve got one more to add: why is it that whenever I try to access a news site such as the UK Sunday Times, I get a bounced back message from IE saying “unable to access the webpage”, or words […]

Get out and vote

Thursday 17 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Good people of the Cook Islands, who I believe will soon have an election. Who put the standing people into power? You did and please don’t forget! Who can vote them out? Only you can! Try to get everyone out to vote and be sure everyone votes, so I for one who reads […]

Better to walk before you run

Wednesday 16 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“It’s interesting to note that while Telecom was holding a big customer function for their signing agreement on Monday with O3b, the entire Aitutaki phone system was down,” a smoke signaller writes to highlight the irony of the situation. “It was almost impossible to get hold of someone at Telecom here in Raro who knew […]

Kata - June 16, 2010

Wednesday 16 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Confused at Ka comments

Wednesday 16 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor. Mr Ka makes comments that are not in line with what I have been quoted as saying. I am a little confused as to what Mr Ka in Melbourne is suggesting that I am a bad candidate for the Demo in Mauke? Many people in Mauke have spoken with me and said that […]

Have a nosey at Rota-loo

Wednesday 16 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Many thanks to Rachel for writing the article on our Rota-loo composting toilet a few weeks ago. Response to us because of that article just shows the power of media to be agents for change. However, from the queries we’ve had and in reading the article again, some clarification would be helpful to […]

A rainy night at netball...

Monday 14 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Off we went full of expectation and enthusiasm. Our first visit to the national stadium to watch the Cook Island girls play Fiji on the Friday evening at 6.45pm. We did not expect valet parking but we did think there would at the least be some designated parking! If there is a parking […]

Send a clear message

Monday 14 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s disparaging to read of the political turmoil in the Cook Islands and one cannot help but hope that the people will send a clear message to those that “represent” them of what they expect with regard to that representation. As a New Zealand born of Cook Island descent, I am proud nonetheless […]

Make tough call

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Like blue moons it is a rare opportunity that has presented itself to the current Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, William Smiley Heather. Minister Heather holds within his grasp a chance to make the radical sweeping changes within his former stomping ground and appoint a person of calibre and credibility to lead a […]

Kata - June 12, 2010

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Title correction

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

On June 2, we ran a story which had an incorrect title for Papa Tangaroa Kainuku. Papa Tangaroa’s official Rarotongan title is Ema-Ema-Rangi, which means Kainuku Paramount High Priest, narrator of the Kainuku genealogy and historian for Kainuku Kopu-Tangata. Papa Tangaroa confirmed this is the correct title. Our apologies.

'Letter mine'

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor In response to your article ‘Cut the crap says George’, I am more than capable of writing my own letters thank you Norman. Most often I find myself disagreeing with what Norman says, on this occasion I agree on one thing, it is time for less chat and more work. At the Demo […]

The Good Ol' days

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to correct your Smoke Signal in Friday’s 11 June issue that I, Tupui Ariki Henry challenged Sir Geoffrey Henry for the CIP Leadership and failed and caused the crisis of 1983, ending with another election in November. I challenged Sir Geoffrey in our cabinet meeting because he stripped me of my […]

Chopper pad questions

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am a little concerned about the location of the new helicopter pad over the road from CITC Liquor. Firstly, what safety measures are needed for preparing a landing pad? There is nothing but a piece of rope stopping people from walking up to a potential dangerous situation. Also, if you are within […]

Why not dock at Papua?

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Why would someone put a cruise dock in a very small lagoon like the Arorangi passage? Can the ship even fit inside that area? Why not make a passage in the lagoon from Papua to Rutaki, resting in Papua that way the guests aren’t stranded in the middle of nowhere. Stores can be […]

CI democracy RIP

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Democracy is dead in the Cook Islands. It died when Jim Marurai formed a government with four members of parliament, later one, making a total of 25 per cent of our members of parliament representing the nation, putting an end to our democratic system. Nowhere else in the democratic world does such a […]

JPs, get tough!

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“There appears to be some inconsistencies with the way that driving with excess breath/blood alcohol is being treated by the courts (CI news May 9 front page),” a smoke signaller writes. “If the Police, as they claim, say that they are serious in stopping this, then the courts have to start backing them up. Just […]

Kata - June 11, 2010

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Solutions offered to Demos

Thursday 10 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Even after the recent party conference of the Democratic Party, the party split still exists and still widening. The former leader and minister, Sir Terepai Maoate tried to make a deal with the PM and it was rejected, as unreasonable. A news brief item in the recent Cook Islands Times by Iaveta Short, […]