Opinion

So much bickering and battling

Saturday 10 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

We don’t want any more stupid leaders! Dear Editor, It is so disappointing to return home and find that we are still our own worst enemies. How can we possibly expect the elected leaders, of this country or any organisation, to do their job well in a climate of so much bickering and internal battling […]

Mataiapo challenges MPs to public debate

Friday 9 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana once again. I am writing this letter with my very deep concern about our financial situation. In fact, I have raised the problems many times previously without a bloody response from the politicians. We are bankrupt right now and the government is relying on a day to day basis to secure […]

Please explain what 'values'

Friday 9 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, During the time when Sir Terepai had been sacked as a minister of the crown and the Demo Party was imploding, the former Demo Party Vice-President Karla Eggelton went on record to say that the political turmoil at that time had “brought out the values of the nation”. Well now that Karla’s mother, […]

Kata - April 9, 2010

Friday 9 April 2010 | Published in Kata

Why are visitors picking up our rubbish?

Friday 9 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I felt compelled to write and express how ashamed I was to see the touring Foothills Lions under 16 rugby team from Canada pick up months worth of rubbish at the waterfall. Far out! How lazy have we become! These young guys picked up beer cans, soft drink bottles and worst of all […]

Keep politics out of it

Thursday 8 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Many voters believe all senior government bureaucratic positions should be hired on the basis of their competency, experience and professionalism, selected by a competent board and not at the whim of political favour. How many examples do we need to prove hiring for political or family reasons is disastrous to our countries economy. […]

Praying for parliament

Thursday 8 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m not siding with anyone on the latest government shenanigans, as it seems in my 11 years of being back in the Cooks there hasn’t been a time when power play didn’t rear its ugly head in one form or another. Party politics leaves me believing that if you really want to make […]

Kata - April 8, 2010

Thursday 8 April 2010 | Published in Kata

More tourists are not the answer, yet

Thursday 8 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“It’s not surprising to note that the composition of the Tourism Board is made up of hard core tourism operators,” writes a smoke signaller. “Their motives are clearly profit-driven as entrepreneurs and increasing tourism numbers is good for them. What about the rest of us? Don’t we know that tourism on one hand supports our […]

Nice place, shame about the politics

Wednesday 7 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana, te iti tangata and all others that read this, Having recently returned from lovely Rarotonga, back in the cooler climate of where I am now, I gotta say yes, still an awesome place to be, shame about the sacked MP who just won’t get the hint. Think about it, is there […]

Do things ever change?

Wednesday 7 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia Orana, There’s an old saying “The more things change, the more they stay the same” and never more so than right now it seems. The latest news to come out of Rarotonga regarding the recent departures from Cook Islands Tourism must be extremely disappointing for the industry as a whole. The same […]

Kata - April 7, 2010

Wednesday 7 April 2010 | Published in Kata

We're worlds apart, Mr Prime Minister

Wednesday 7 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Mr Prime Minister, while you sleep soundly under a nice roof in your Rarotonga home, the people of Aitutaki sleep in their homes under a tarpaulin roof. While you sleep soundly in the comforts of your private room in your government house, the people of Aitutaki sleep in damaged buildings with […]

People our biggest asset

Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I totally agree with Papa Mike in regard to the people of the Cook Islands being our/your best asset…I love the people. My family. Who, no matter what is happening in the world, won’t stop smiling. The little people, who work hard for next to nothing, still smile. Who, after working for a […]

Do nothing, say nothing

Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, One of the reasons families continue to leave the Cook Islands and have given up on our beautiful island is because they can’t stomach what a complete and total joke the Marurai government is. A recent example is, Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen stating in the Cook Islands News, “it’s likely government will no […]

Thank you from Aitutaki

Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, George “Maggie” Angene was amongst the first volunteers who came to Aitutaki in the wake of the Cyclone Pat disaster. George Maggie offered his assistance free of charge to Aitutaki families who needed some help with rebuilding their damaged homes. Maggie’s experience with limestone buildings came in very useful in Aitutaki. The first […]

Call for free meals

Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m letting the Cook Islands know that T&M Heather have breakfast and lunch provided for their employees – how great is that? Tourism Cook Islands on a whole can learn from this company. Tourism operators throughout the world always provide staff with complimentary meals but for some reason tourism Cook Islands as a […]

Think carefully about tourism

Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations to ‘Papa Mike’ for his letter on Monday March 29. We would like to add our comments to his. As repeat visitors to these beautiful islands, we agree with his views. We have been coming to the Cook Islands over the last ten years and have seen changes that are inevitable. But, […]

'Rip-off' profits paid by consumers

Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Telecom is a rip-off. To watch and listen to the posturing by the CEO on TV the other night makes me sick. Telecom makes millions of dollars a year profit from the customers in the Cook Islands. How do we know this? Study the various budget books put out by government over the […]

Showcasing the visiting Japanese group

Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A Rarotonga resident writes about the Japanese group that’s in town showcasing and sharing their martial arts prowess and their ballet dance: “The photo on the front page of the Cook Islands News of the young girl was fantastic – what amazing form she has! But I thought it was really sad that they had […]