Opinion

Cabinet needs to act now on nodules

Saturday 17 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, One reason why we may lose the nodule opportunity is that there is so much misinformation, which is not surprising for an innovative project of this magnitude. Here are frequently asked question and my responses: 1. Does Endeavour want exclusive rights to the entire CIEEZ? No, the purpose of the exploration is to […]

Safe in young hands

Saturday 17 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Those lucky enough to have been at the national auditorium on Thursday for the Rarotonga schools’ culture festival were treated to a spectacular night’s entertainment and a resounding confirmation that the future of our country’s performing cultural arts is in safe hands with our young generation. All of the children, their teachers and their parents […]

Kata - April 17, 2010

Saturday 17 April 2010 | Published in Kata

Old photos wanted

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’ve been trying to hunt down old school photos for 1976 of Avatea School, Kumete Sports, and Primary School Competitions. Likewise for Tereora College from 1977 to 1981. Living overseas doesn’t make it easy to search the archives in Raro. I’ve tried asking friends and old school friends, so far no availability. Are […]

$1 fare no good for small people

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations to the Cook Islands Tourism Board for devising such a brilliant strategy (like last year’s) which serves your own personal agendas and not the industry as a whole. The recent and ongoing increase in Air Raro flights to Aitutaki per day is only catering for the big resorts at the expense of […]

Top grade ref required for premier match

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am not a club supporter of either the Avatiu Eels or the Ngatangiia Sea Eagles. I am, however, a big fan of rugby league. I love the game and reckon that the way it is played in our country is bloody awesome. In fact, the hugely exciting match between the Panthers and […]

$1.2m an acre?

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A couple of local websites that have land leases for sale have asking prices for vacant beachfront land that may surprise some people. For example, one beachfront section in Arorangi of 2500 square metres has an asking price of $750,000. That’s a little over half an acre (0.6177 acres) and if it sells for that […]

Kata - April 16, 2010

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Kata

Broadband speeds explained

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Residential broadband problems are sometimes to do with the age and lack of memory of a computer. This is one comment from Telecom Cook Islands in reply to questions asked by a reader in Smoke Signals about residential broadband. TCI marketing and sales manager Mark Boyd thanks the signaller (on April 14) and says the […]

'I listen to my people'

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to tell Mr Boggs, an Amercian living in Arorangi, that I have always called things as I see them and will continue to do so. I wish to thank him for reminding the public of my previous views which I have never retracted or denounced. I hope he understands what I […]

Tickets sell fast for culture night

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Thirteen schools will take part in tonight’s highly anticipated Rarotonga schools’ culture festival at the national auditorium. If you haven’t got a ticket yet, you will be very lucky to find one today with many of the schools already sold out. Some tickets may still be available from the national auditorium at 4.30pm – so […]

Timber is better

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On my way home after chatting with a local about concerns of sand removal on Mauke, it struck me that this same concern needs to be considered with the block houses being planned for Aitutaki. I do not believe that Aitutaki’s environment can sustain the taking of enough sand to build so many […]

Book helping to promote health

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Liquor licensing A smoke signaller writes: “I watched an interesting TV programme on liquor licensing. Do the 150 licences issued to date include Catholic Churches around the island? I mean to say although they do not have a great variety of liquor available, they do dispense wine on a Sunday of all days, and admittedly […]

Poetic justice

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Who are we kidding when we think we can get the general public to change their voting habits and select candidates of a high calibre who are savvy and can make decisive decisions at both village and national level? We can only hope that 10-20 years down the track this may change but […]

Kata - April 15, 2010

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Kata

There when help is needed

Wednesday 14 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “In the letters to the editor’s column ‘Totally choked’ was really worried about the country because our latest candidates chosen by political parties are village based. Well, why doesn’t he try and put his hand up for the country to see if voters will vote for him? I doubt it! Whether […]

A shot in the arm

Wednesday 14 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Another member (Cassey Eggelton) has joined the ‘team’, and that’s what the island needs – team players. Just what the doctor ordered – a team of people working towards a better future for the country ‘together’. Not the constant childish tantrums we’ve been witness to of late. The country cannot afford that. The […]

Scary stuff

Wednesday 14 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to two articles in Saturday’s Cook Islands News that clearly show we have problems with justice. It was an interesting story about Mark Short on the state of our Justice Department. Something disturbs me a little though and I quote Mark, “We’re appointing JPs but we have no resources to train […]

Independence – the way to go

Wednesday 14 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Maybe Herr Tongia can assist. If half of the Demo MPs meet to discuss matters of public interest, what is it called if not a Demo Caucus? Okay, so that he doesn’t get upset again, let’s call it a Non-Demo Caucus. Actually, he’s so angry that they met, they may soon be Non-Demos […]

Scrap VAT on solar systems

Wednesday 14 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Renewable energy – let’s get on with it! I don’t disagree with the need to pursue large scale renewable energy sources over time but it is obvious at the moment from media coverage that the government is not in a position to do anything much about it, more’s the pity. However, it is […]