Opinion

Kata - February 27, 2010

Saturday 27 February 2010 | Published in Kata

Who's counting all the funds?

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This cyclone appeal is certainly a good idea to help our brothers and sisters in Aitutaki. Many people have made cash donations and pledged donations, sales of plates of food, sales of t-shirts and many more. Others have provided materials, containers and equipment. Our concern is whether all the money raised will actually […]

Sounds like a TCI promo

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s no wonder that the PM is flip flopping on allowing Telecom’s monopoly to continue. He was wined and dined twice by the Telecom board members last week and wrapped up nicely with a cocktail evening at the Salsa. Everyone knows that the quickest way to get the PM to agree with you […]

Kata - February 26, 2010

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Kata

We can't afford parliament not to sit

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There are very solid grounds for the argument that five members of parliament, from a total of 24, do not have full executive powers to govern in a country that supposedly holds firm to the fundamental democratic principle of majority rule. Difficult to imagine how a very small minority of MPs, less than […]

Wellington meetings not their job?

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

One of our readers going by the handle Retired Diplomat writes on the subject of the Crocombe/Mokoroa trip to New Zealand: “How these two fooled Cabinet into agreeing that they hold important talks with some ministerial officials in Wellington, is beyond us. We have a Minister of Foreign Affairs and we have a Secretary of […]

Kata - February 25, 2010

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Kata

'Stay safe' applies to helmets, footpaths, kids on utes

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was wanting to comment on the road works carried out around the Muri area last week. I must say that I totally agree with the other letter writers who gave their endorsement to the wonderful job T & M Heather and their crew have been doing. Fast and efficient are just two […]

Time ripe to demand new faces, fresh ideas

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On the one hand government is very much prepared to commit vast amounts of money, time and effort globe-trotting to international meetings and conferences in an effort to highlight the country’s plight on global warming and how sea level rise could make our northern-group, low lying atolls all but disappear. On the other […]

Kata - February 23, 2010

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Kata

Message to our MPs

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Every week I stay in touch reading the Cook Islands News (of course, as a former employee) to see what is happening back there at home Rarotonga and our beautiful neighbouring islands. I really do not know exactly what to think of the many political dramas happening there. Whether it’s a good thing […]

Roading is all about funding

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My sincere best wishes to the people of Aitutaki. Donations have been made, and hopefully all will reach them. I noticed a letter regarding road works. I am amused at the writer’s ignorance, thinking the entire problem was the ‘works crew’. One thing is clear, we do have the capable people right there […]

Play league or what!

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I’m replying to Carlson’s statement of Saturday. In reply to your question, it sounds like you’re only worried about the well being of those 15 or 20 Shark league boys. What about the rest of their family, specially the old and the very young ones? I think they’re the ones that are really […]

Real appeal accounting

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The letter writer (CINews Mon Feb 22) warning of the need to have a real accounting of ALL Aitutaki fund-raising was spot on,” writes a smoke signaller. “Sorry to you folks on the side of the road selling plates of food or watermelons ‘in aid of Aitutaki’ but history suggests a donor would be better […]

Kata - February 22, 2010

Monday 22 February 2010 | Published in Kata

Storm batters Tongareva

Monday 22 February 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

While the Southern Cook Islands was waiting yesterday to see which direction a new storm would take, the atoll of Penrhyn was getting a hammering from gale winds and heavy rain from the intensifying depression, beginning on Saturday night. The Fiji Met Service said Penrhyn, 1365km north of Rarotonga, received 156mm of rain over a […]

Maoate and Marsters in new comedy act

Monday 22 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Now we read the Maoate and Marsters Comedy Act. What a joke for these two hasbeens to challenge funding for cyclone relief and demanding that everything must be done ‘according to the rules’. Is this the same Maoate who ‘followed the rules’ re the Toagate fiasco and preferential treatment on hardship loans to […]

Kata - February 20, 2010

Saturday 20 February 2010 | Published in Kata

Give fishing company a fair go

Saturday 20 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to give my support to the Northern Cook Islands Fishing Company, because as stated in their letter to you dated February 12, ‘Commitment is there’. There has certainly been a lot of media attention over the past few months regarding the operation and commitment expressed by NCIFC that would benefit […]

T&M puts food on tables

Saturday 20 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I fully support the views of ‘Improved roading fan’ that the time has come for government to privatise the future provision of essential public infrastructure services such as road works. No question about it, private companies such as T&M Heather can do a far better job and in much faster time than the […]