Opinion

Higher airport taxes in ticket

Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“For all those beating up on our country’s taxes,” a smoke signaller writes, “these are the airport taxes for a trip to Fiji from Auckland New Zealand next week. The difference is these are in the purchase price of the ticket.” AIRPORT & GOVERNMENT COSTS: Airport Departure Tax NZ$56.40; Airport Security Charge $3.80; Airport Development […]

Kata - May 11, 2010

Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Sir Terepai not the answer

Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Sir Terepai has got a lot to answer for the millions of taxpayers’ money wasted on the Toagate fiasco and the potential millions of dollars more that could still have to come out of the public purse. With the country’s general elections looming ever so closer, I am not happy to see that […]

Arorangi jetty plan a shambles

Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The unfolding fiasco relating to the Arorangi Jetty project speaks volumes of just how unorganised, disjointed and utterly incompetent this Government really is. During the recent visit of New Zealand’s foreign minister Murray McCully, one of the pet projects that this government pushed hard to receive funding was the construction of the Arorangi […]

A very bizarre political situation

Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In the past two years, the now five believers and followers of Jim – Rasmussen, Wigmore, Eggleton, Heather and Piho, all planned to have the PM thrown out on a vote of no confidence with the help of the CIP. It was two years in the planning but on two separate occasions they […]

Dear parrots and politics

Monday 10 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “It’s really a sad state of affairs that we have to wait around to see the Demo Party spend the time coming up to the election, going through the foregone conclusion of ousting the nazis only to finish up with the same old Dead Party options to vote for. Reminds me […]

Kata - May 10, 2010

Monday 10 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Address the immigration anomaly

Monday 10 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In support of recent comments by John Cooper and Dennis Keith regarding immigration requirements of New Zealanders to reside in the Cook Islands, I would like to add that within the next year or two the retirement of many ‘Baby Boomers’ (those born at the end of the war) will be about to […]

Concerned Parent 'completely incorrect'

Monday 10 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The second letter by ‘A Concerned Parent’ on Saturday is totally and completely incorrect in all facets of writing. It’s no wonder our young workforce leave this country because of such belittling and undermining tactics aired by ‘Concerned Parent’. It’s the old story about our own people trying to come to bar with […]

Kata slightly off the mark

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Dear Editor CI News Cartoonist ‘Kata’, is a brilliant artist known for his humorous social and political cartoons in your newspaper, the Cook Islands News. However, Kata was off the mark with his April 27 cartoon depicting John Tangi as a member of a military led dictatorship telling Robert Wigmore he couldn’t stand for the […]

Supporters 'weren't swearing at players'

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A reader replies to one of the smoke signals yesterday regarding Tupapa supporters: “I think I have a fair idea who this person is; you may stay in Tupapa, but you’re not a Tupapa supporter. The person who wrote it sounds as vicious as the message and it shows you how spiteful this person is […]

Kata - May 8, 2010

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Pathetic treatment

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was saddened to read what had happened to Helen. I mean the pathetic treatment she received from the police, especially from Inspector Taivero Isamaela.How can this guy now represent Titikaveka as a candidate for any party. He should, at least together with the Police Commissioner apologise to Helen. Helen was just doing […]

Unprofessional call

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I happened to read senior journalist Helen Greigs tirade against the Cook Islands Police in Monday’s paper. I don’t wish to discuss any guilt or innocence associated with it as that is a matter for others. The article itself reads of massive conspiracy theories by a person that is taking things a tad […]

Stick to the point

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to Pokoinu Trading, you say you have managed an oil industry, it wouldn’t be BP would it? They are good at oil spills and don’t know how to fix it. You are just trying to throw everyone off the point and has nothing to do with the issues. Who cares that […]

Ask LDS to save Mangaia records

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Re: Mangaia records at risk I read with great interest the article on the above subject. I would suggest that whoever is in charge in Mangaia contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City, Utah and see if they could send someone to microfilm their records before […]

Former police commissioner wants to put record straight

Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor From afar I keep abreast of the happenings in the Cook Islands and watch with interest. A matter I have kept a keen eye on was the trial of Norman George and his co-defendants. Now the matter is over, as far as the prosecution procedures are concerned, I would like to put the […]

Kiwi friendship

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Re John Cooper, Vaimaanga, letter re “Reciprocal friendship for New Zealanders” I’m all for it. Would love to be able to spend more than the mandatory 30 days in your beautiful islands. Think about it, I’m one of many Kiwis that think the same way. I might even want to live there then […]

Telecom 'one of the cheapest'

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor In response to Tom Douke’s letter in the paper about the cost of Telecom’s WiFi. Telecom is one of about 10 providers of WiFi service around Rarotonga. Tourists can choose which provider they wish to use, depending on price, convenience, ease of use etc. Tourists can also use several competing internet cafes around […]

Foul mouth spoils game for others

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

An irate sports fan writes: “I am a league freak and always have been since I was a little girl, from ARL to NRL and now CIRL, it’s like our own little island State of Origin. I love it! But I am so sick and tired of Tupapa supporters screaming foul and obscene remarks at […]