Smoke Signals
Whatever happened to 'Go local'?
Monday 11 November 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“It’s funny how a non-fisherman, Business Trade Investment Board’s Terry Rangi, says foreign by-catch is a win-win,” a smoke signaller writes in response to Thursday’s front page article about BTIB granting an extra three month licence variation to a Luen Thai Fishing Venture subsidiary to allow it to sell fish to two local retailers for […]
Schools 'before sports'
Thursday 7 November 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Top government leaders were quick to travel to watch and donate $60,000 to the Cook Islands’ losing rugby league team, which is not a priority. That money should have been given to our two schools that got smoked up. Thank you to the chiropractor who donated thousands of dollars to the […]
Our local drunks 'filling graveyards'
Tuesday 5 November 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I think Tui Short [Justice of the Peace] needs to open his eyes,” a smoke signaller texts to 188 in response to Wednesday’s page 9 article ‘Foreigners appearing in court a problem: JP’. “Because of drunks, it is our people that are filling up the graveyards, the police station and the prison cells – not […]
'Not so fast' on intake land
Friday 1 November 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The government is ready to start the upgrade of our water system which will be distributed on a user-pay system,” a smoke signaller notes. “There are a few stumbling blocks to their grandiose plans. One is the little matter that landowners of the 12 water intakes have not been consulted. There is no guarantee the […]
Play league or grow nita?
Wednesday 30 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Bingo!!” shouts a smoke signaller.
Time for a designated fire service
Saturday 26 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “It is time a designated fire service is set up for Rarotonga, with the support of local leaders in each vaka, and I agree with Nga [Jessie, Rescue Fire Service chief].
Brown losing the battle?
Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Dear Editor, Minister Mark Brown must be suffering from a mad rush of adrenalin.
Building the Cook Islands
Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s letter to the editor ‘We are the Grey Power of today’: “To your letter writer Cook Islands New Zealand Pensioner, every time someone writes about a ‘sacrificial journey’ to New Zealand and Australia to pay taxes there to rescue the Cook Islands it makes me ask, really? To put it in perspective, unless you successfully marched with banners down Lambton Quay to the Inland Revenue head office in Wellington to demand that ALL your taxes be paid to the Cook Islands while you worked there (which of course they would have ignored, by law), then your contribution is as a New Zealand taxpayer collectively sending say $15 million of much appreciated aid to the Cooks a year, or about $3.30 per person in NZ.
Don't forget Raro prices
Monday 21 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “I am wondering whether the MP Smiley Heather [Democratic Party, Ruaau] is diligent enough with his comments in the newspaper regarding the failure of the export pawpaw industry.
Some Grey Power 'small-minded'
Friday 18 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I was shocked and disappointed to see the childish behaviour shown by some supporters of the Grey Power movement at the meeting last Wednesday evening on the tax presentation,” a smoke signaller writes.
Nauru shows how to do it
Thursday 17 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“It is noted that our cousins in Nauru have caught an illegal fishing boat and collected a cool million Yankee dollars,” a smoke signaller writes.
'Why make Colagate political?'
Wednesday 16 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Why does your smoke signaller ‘hatched under Norman’s nose’ make Colagate political?” a smoke signaller writes in response to one of yesterday’s smokies.
Challenge to list top 100 tax bills
Saturday 12 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller responds to a letter to the editor yesterday: “Mr Richard Neves, Financial Secretary, MFEM says, ‘All taxpayers are treated equally’.
Grey Power members 'freeloading'
Wednesday 9 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Grey Power are already off their rockers,” a smoke signaller texts to 188.
Super seiners for new MMR office?
Monday 7 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Word is that the marine resources secretary Ben Ponia is banging the purse seine drum so he can sign off on an agreement with the European Union for some very large Spanish ‘super’ purse seiners to come in here and fish, and he intends to go to Europe this month to sign it.
Team 'simply the best'
Saturday 5 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Wednesday’s smoke signal ‘League locals stay home’ drew a couple of swift responses to TXT188: “Here we go again.
League's locals stay home
Wednesday 2 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Here we go again,” a smoke signaller texts to 188.
Breakfast 'for CIP tumu'
Friday 27 September 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller texts to 188 in response to yesterday’s p7 article ‘Corruption changed by-election result: Beer’: “I was reading about James Beer’s allegations about the Murienua by-election.
Water loan 'Trojan' for our resources
Thursday 26 September 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to yesterday’s smokie ‘Come clean on the water project’ a smoke signaller writes: “Twenty years ago the Italian government invented an export scheme.
Come clean on the water project
Wednesday 25 September 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“There seem to be a few more Chinese men wondering around Avarua,” a smoke signaller writes.