Opinion

Telecom must change

Wednesday 5 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Telecom is charging our tourists around 650 per cent more for internet access than we are paying. If you want access to Telecom’s WIFI internet access (Hot Spot) you have to pay a minimum of $15 dollars for 50 megabytes of data. How does this compare to what I pay for 50 mega […]

Kata - May 5, 2010

Wednesday 5 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Who foots the bill?

Tuesday 4 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana te iti tangata. It’s me again, Uncle Bob! No surprise on the outcome of Norm’s Court Case. But at whose cost? Take a wild guess, te iti tangata, the bill is yours, say thanks to Pai and co. These crackers have cost the country more than their combined worth. They pushed […]

Police action beggars belief

Tuesday 4 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Helen Greig’s account of the disgraceful treatment of her by the police recently makes for sobering reading. How a competent police officers could pursue an innocent person based on such suspect information beggars belief. It is so important the police maintain public confidence in their integrity and objectivity. Helen Greig’s story does not […]

Alice's tropical wonderland

Tuesday 4 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “The recent screening of Alice in Wonderland was certainly timely for us here in the Cook Islands where, like Alice’s experience, reality seems to have been set on its head and all is back to front. On the one hand we have spent well over $1,000,000 chasing an allegation against Norman […]

Wrongful arrest disgraceful

Tuesday 4 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor. After reading the story of misdirected justice regarding Helen Greig’s wrongful arrest, I can only say one word – disgraceful. Disgraceful that the police have suddenly become judge and jury, disgraceful that the police can make arrests or hold a member of the public without due diligence and due process, disgraceful that a […]

Kata - May 4, 2010

Tuesday 4 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Billboards spoiling enua manea

Monday 3 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A reader writes: “As we were driving around our beautiful island (enua manea!) enjoying the green, well kept sections and sweeping oceans views, our vision was suddenly obscured by a huge billboard, demanding attention to a business in Arorangi. It made the “OIRE RANGIATEA” sign seem less important! We continued driving and then another billboard […]

Please explain tourism situation

Monday 3 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor A few days ago you had the ‘golden goose’ of tourism being strangled in your newspaper cartoon. I think that is such a good image of what’s happening in this country. What I am worried about is that it is being allowed to happen with no one really doing anything about it. There […]

Kata - May 3, 2010

Monday 3 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Meitaki maata CI from the UK

Saturday 1 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just want to send out a big thank you to the people of the Cook Islands. I made my first trip to your beautiful country last month with my wife and children. It has always been a dream of mine to visit, ever since I can remember. Well finally in my 47th […]

Thank you 60+ women

Saturday 1 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to thank and acknowledge the women of the sixty plus club for their work in the community. I had the privilege of being a guest speaker as a representative of Punanga Tauturu Inc at their monthly meeting and have walked away renewed in my conviction of the resilience and perseverance […]

A ridiculous situation

Saturday 1 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just happened to pick up the newspaper about 10 minutes ago and to my amusement, there was a reta re Health System Unfair. I am saddened to read that Tuao Messine’s son and daughter-in-law is facing what we came through and I applaud them for voicing their disappointment. I can only hope […]

Kata - May 1, 2010

Saturday 1 May 2010 | Published in Kata

What about the others?

Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I was just reading through the Cook Islands News this morning (Thursday) regarding the sentencing of Danny Cook,” writes a smoke signaller. “My points are: There are other offenders who are facing the same sentencing but have not taken place yet. How quickly Danny’s case has been dealt with. His sentence is two years in […]

That's democracy!

Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As I have a lot of friends on Rarotonga I regularly dip into your online publication to catch up on local news and views. This week I was pleased to see a most erudite communication from The Bard and as today, April 23, is Shakespeare’s birthday I thought it fitting to congratulate the […]

Plates just the number

Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest the article on Cook Islands number plates. I live in Michigan, USA and have new Cook Islands plates on four cars. My Toyota with the CI plate on the front of the car in the snow appeared in the CI News last year. We only need a rear plate […]

Kata - April 30, 2010

Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Kata

Local bums on empty seats?

Thursday 29 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A suggestion has been made that if taxpayers have to underwrite the new Sydney flights, surely taxpayers could expect first dibs on any empty seats. It would help keep the planes (looking) full and leave a sweeter taste in our mouths… of course we’d be hoping we don’t leave anyone behind permanently in Australia! It […]

A bit of poetry

Thursday 29 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is a response to the letter signed ‘Two senesene worth’ letter in your newspaper yesterday: Two Senesene, the moon is green. Yes! Minister Wilkie, the moon is green. Two Senesene, the sun is purple. Yes! Minister Wilkie, the sun is purple. Two Senesene, I command you to follow my instructions. Yes! Minister […]