Smoke Signals
MP celebration jaunts 'wasteful'
Tuesday 30 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Further to Constitution Celebrations budget cuts, Prime Minister Henry Puna, Nandi Glassie, Teina Bishop, outer islands CIP government MPs, with their wives and entourage of hangers-on are all heading away for a one week holiday courtesy of the Raro tax payers, and the Ministry of Culture’s budget which was cut by $60,000.
Grey Power 'never sleeps'
Saturday 27 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “The vice president of Grey Power was approached on Lagoon Day at the Punanga Nui by a couple who asked that their names be added to the ever-growing list of members for the organisation.
Marine park funding not fair
Friday 26 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The formation of the Marine Park was a great idea, but now we hear that overseas funding for the Marine Park is all going to Te Ipukarea Society,” a smoke signaller writes.
Call for sentencing consistency
Tuesday 23 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s front page article ‘Punanga Tauturu: sentence not right’: “A man pleads guilty to assaulting his partner and the Justice of the Peace discharges him without conviction – I’m flummoxed.
Shape up or ship out
Tuesday 23 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Dear Editor, Your paper of Monday July 16 carried the announcement by the leader of the Opposition, Mr Wilkie Rasmussen, that there will be ‘No coalition for Demos’.
Budget cut for culture
Monday 22 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Ok, so the Ministry of Culture budget has been cut back again thanks to Henry Puna,” a smoke signaller texts to 188.
Lost in translation
Tuesday 16 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Are we going to have Chinese teachers here too?” a smoke signaller asks in a text to 188.
Call for new fisheries minister
Saturday 13 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “With the complete loss of faith in the Ministry of Marine Resources and minister as evidenced by the reams of documents being passed around the island depicting everything from alleged treating to conflicts of interest, and as there has to be a portfolio shuffle soon, could we ask our Prime Minister to begin the process right away by changing the minister of fisheries, thus defusing the whole issue.
You can't ban everything
Friday 12 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Not long ago there was a call for a ban on large 4x4 vehicles because they were too big for our roads,” a smoke signaller notes.
Checkpoints and seatbelts needed
Wednesday 10 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“This is regarding the accident that happened at Nikao in the weekend,” a smoke signaller texts: “It’s sad to hear the boys lost their lives at such a young age.
Mangaia's 'dangerous slipway'
Tuesday 9 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I refer to comments made last week about ‘Mangaia prepares for climate change’, taken from Island Business magazine,” a smoke signaller writes.
BTIB 'back scratching'
Monday 8 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “The controversial political appointment by this Cook Islands Party government of George Pitt as chairman of the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) I believe is a clever way of shutting him up from his continuous barrage of attacks via his independent newspaper.
Govt kaiou $6200 per person
Saturday 6 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Government debt reached over $93 million during 2012 and that was a year ago.
Crime 'hard line' needed
Tuesday 2 July 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
‘“I wasn’t sure if your Monday front page story ‘Burglary accused wants out of prison’ was a joke, but it’s July 1st not April 1st,” a smoke signaller writes.
Leave EIAs, decisions online
Friday 28 June 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to the Wednesday smoke signal ‘Blackrock EIA’ which sought information about a recent environmental impact assessment, a smoke signaller asks: “Why does the National Environment Service remove EIAs from its website after the public viewing and comment period of one month? It would be a great public resource if all EIAs and the subsequent decisions of the Environment Authority on each remained permanently online at environment.gov.ck.
What's going on there?
Thursday 27 June 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to media coverage on the issue of the composition of fill that was used to replace sand mined on the beachside at Blackrock, a smoke signaller writes: “It seems amazing about all the fuss at Blackrock, yet nothing is said about concrete, steel etc being pushed into Muri Lagoon near the Cook Islands Christian Church.” SS: We spoke with a nearby resident who said they have no knowledge at all of such activity taking place.
Burglars 'bigger problem than chooks'
Saturday 22 June 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“There’s more coverage and complaints now to Cook Islands Tourism about the ‘stinky chicken farm’, a smoke signaller texts to 188.
White sand for red rock
Friday 21 June 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to Monday’s front page article ‘Seeing Red’ a smoke signaller writes: “On the National Environment Service and the red soil issue, can I ask what the project was anyway and was there an environmental impact assessment report? The sand mining is less than 30 metres from the high water mark: surely we should have been allowed the chance to object? I believe there is red soil mixed into the fill along with iron and other dump material.” SS: The project is to dig up sand for use in various projects by T&M Heather, such as for making concrete.
More tellers, less wait -- better service
Thursday 20 June 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “The ANZ business training manager Stephen Caunter, who is holding a number of workshops here on Rarotonga and Aitutaki as part of the Cook Islands Tourism Awards, revealed on local TV on Tuesday night the importance of customer care being paramount to the success of business. Perhaps there needs to be a look at the same issues facing customers who, in my experience, are encountering lengthy periods waiting to be served by tellers at the local ANZ branch. Make no mistake, the girls do an excellent job, but are faced with limited staff. This has been an ongoing problem for several months and in my opinion management are failing to address the situation. A visit to the local Westpac branch will show how it is done, with more tellers on hand.”
Between a princess and a president
Tuesday 18 June 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Some people have a knack for getting valuable free publicity for themselves and the Cook Islands, and Charlotte Piho is one Cook Islander who excels at it.