Opinion

No CIP support means yes to Toa?

Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

After reading Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna’s letter to the editor yesterday, one signaller was confused by the statement that the CIP will not provide government with the numbers to give it supply for non-emergency items such as the Toa settlement payment because these are ‘subject to normal political negotiations’. The signaller asks if […]

Fix roads before helmets

Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The new president of the road safety council is over generalising and obviously making a point for all who insist that every motorcyclist should be forced to wear the standard full helmets on sale even at lower costs, but restrictive and hot in our tropical climate. The majority of motor bike and motor […]

MPs owe us answers

Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Some time ago you requested some biographical information and individual response from our MPs on the question of political reform. The question was supported by many readers texting you. I realise we have had cyclone and tsunami trauma since then, but could you please publish the results of the questionnaire as I’m sure […]

Thanks to four guys

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I think it is important to thank all of the kind hearted and generous offers that have gone towards the Aitutaki Appeal. Without so many people offering their time, money and expertise I am sure that, while by no means complete, the recovery effort would have taken so much longer than what it […]

Don't believe re-write

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, One would not normally dignify the ramblings of Tepaki’s PR man James Thomson but our young people should not be allowed to believe James’ re-write of history is true. Government development and running of The Rarotongan was most certainly not successful. The ministers and other insiders who ran up bar and food tabs […]

Thanks for good advice

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A big thank you to both Alistair Macquarie and Tap Pryor for taking the time to shed more light on the effects of tsunamis and making us realise that islands such as those in our country are actually not vulnerable to the deadly effects of tsunamis. Not only have Alistair and Tap put […]

Thanks, but road works incomplete

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank goodness that MOIP’s road work gang has finally got around to adding a tar and gravel mix fill into the 6 inch gaps that were recently ripped perpendicular at set intervals throughout the main road in Tupapa. This simple but critical work has probably saved many vehicles from enduring a further bashing! […]

Toast the PM and TCI board, don't criticise them

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your correspondent ‘Bottoms Up’ (February 26) is surprised that the Telecom NZ Directors on the Telecom Cook Islands Board should meet with the PM over a meal and drinks. The inference that this unduly influenced the PM is, in my view, well wide of the mark. The NZ directors attend board meetings on […]

Kata - March 10, 2010

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Kata

CIP clears up 'misconceptions'

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to state for the record the following in order to clear up any misconceptions about the true CIP position on a range of current issues. First, the CIP has not merged nor is about to merge with the Democratic Party. We have no need to do that, especially at this point […]

Double scam – be careful

Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

You’ve heard about the Nigerian scams were people around the world have been conned out of their bank savings by promises of huge rewards for helping to release millions locked away by a relative who supposedly cheated their countries by hidden overpayments on major projects etc. Some individuals and organisations here in the Cook Islands […]

No second chances

Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The police can plead for a stop to drink driving and the loved ones of those killed can hope as well,” writes a smoke signaller, “but until the court locks offenders up in prison on the first offence it is just not going to stop. Forget the tears over the family that will be disadvantaged […]

Answers and repairs, please

Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can the HOM of ministry of infrastructure and planning please advise the public when the road works department will repair the roads in both Tupapa and Ngatangiia which were recently dug up to lay some power cables and water pipes? My car has taken a battering every time I drive over these roads. […]

Kata - March 9, 2010

Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Helmets won't stop a neck breaking

Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I take my hat off to Nga Puna big time. Realistically a crash helmet will not be able to prevent a motorcyclist’s neck from breaking, and losing one’s life. Understandably young motorcyclists would overlook the speed limit, and with the crash helmets on they are unable to physically experience the actual speed with […]

Count the deaths

Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When I was principal at Tereora College a few years back, I strongly encouraged the wearing of bike helmets on the Island. With the support of our Board of Trustees, the Road Safety Council, Cooks Transport and many others, we accessed helmets which the students were able to purchase at heavily subsidised prices. […]

Police need to re-focus strategies

Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I do not want to be too critical of the work our police are doing but I believe that they could be more effective in discouraging drivers to stop drinking and driving than what is happening at the moment. To me it is pointless stopping/checking the vehicles of every tom, dick and harry […]

'We are not at any serious risk'

Monday 8 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The comments from Emergency Management Cook Islands (Saturday’s CI News) saying they were justified in alerting the island by door knocking, sirens, and horns blowing etc and getting everyone to run to high ground at around 2am when the ETA of any perceived threat was now over six hours away, just shows their […]

Kata - March 8, 2010

Monday 8 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Egg numbers don't stack up – Scotts Farm

Monday 8 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am replying to CITC’s response on the egg sales situation. What would be really enlightening at this time is to hear from the egg consumers because they are the ones mostly affected. Some other observations: 1) If, as they state, our weekly supplies into the CITC Food Group comprises just 40% of […]