Opinion

Tav's tax and the minister

Saturday 19 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor This week’s revelation that a supposedly successful business called Tav Ltd owes tax and is in the process of being sold up by the Inland Revenue Department (CI News June16 and 18) is interesting for two reasons. The first is that the position is not told from the tax department’s viewpoint. The second […]

Aitutaki mobiles 'not fine'

Friday 18 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

You report that Telecom says mobile phones are working fine in Aitutaki,” a smoke signaller writes, “but I have yet to make a call recently that was not so bad that it had to be abandoned. It’s just a question of who gives up first, the customer in Aitutaki or the customer in Rarotonga. It’s […]

Very sad situation

Friday 18 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I like reading your news as I live in New Zealand. What’s happening at home is very sad. Why don’t the people elect a government that can do a better job for the Cooks? Somebody mention before, why did the Prime Minister ask the QR the right for a snap election? He’s the […]

Kata - June 18, 2010

Friday 18 June 2010 | Published in Kata

You can make a big difference

Friday 18 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I want to point to an opportunity, right now, for each of us personally to take actions that will begin political reform in the Cook Islands. I recently heard Rarotonga defined as “a scandal surrounded by water”. While this made me laugh, it was ultimately sobering: the fit is just a little “too”good. […]

Who's getting the flight?

Thursday 17 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor The promotion of the direct flight from Sydney is not getting to the all the people, only the people that were going to come over here anyway. As only the travel industry were involved in the promotion and it is not getting out to the travelling public. Regular Traveller (Name and address supplied)

Land could bog down septic

Thursday 17 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Saturday’s story on a revolutionary sewage treatment concept for the Cook Islands is inspiring but one wonders if the author Mr Mavromatis and his team are a bit absorbed in the technical side of things and a bit out of touch with the social and land tenure realities of the country. […]

Kata - June 17, 2010

Thursday 17 June 2010 | Published in Kata

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 […]

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 […]