Smoke Signals
Is it a footpath or cycle lane?
Saturday 11 May 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller texts to 188 in response to yesterday’s letter to the editor ‘Safe cycling on Raro’ which gave thanks for the lanes marked in solid white on the sides of the new airport road “which allow us to walk and cycle in safety”.
Short line in a big sea for tourism
Thursday 9 May 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Kia orana, and congrats to all the ‘new’ and ‘old’ Cook Islands Tourism Corporation board members!” writes a smoke signaller in response to yesterday’s p7 article ‘Tourism board members appointed’.
Who is the mimi man?
Wednesday 8 May 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Your statement in Tuesday’s paper is a bit far fetched,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s smokie ‘Supporting gay rights’.
Who gave students drugs?
Tuesday 7 May 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Thanks to New Zealand Maori school teacher Nicky Kerr for her letter to the editor of Monday (Punished for the rest of their lives).
There and back again
Saturday 4 May 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Bingo!” shouts a smoke signaller.
Government should refund meds
Friday 3 May 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “I think Lavi Rokoika [Tuesday’s letter to the editor ‘Comments ‘erroneous and reckless’’] and others have missed the point that Wilkie Rasmussen was making in the article ‘Opposition critical of health services’.
Yes, we are a Christian nation
Wednesday 1 May 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “I noticed that one of your ignorant Signallers makes reference to the Cook Islands not being a “Christian nation”.
Sanctity of marriage: Yeah right
Tuesday 30 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “On the front page of the CI News last Friday is the heading ‘PM says no to gay marriage’.
Baron Archer links to Cook Islands
Saturday 27 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, is an English author and former politician.
'None of us was near his backpack'
Wednesday 24 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to yesterday’s smokie ‘A few can ‘spoil it’,’ [“$400 was taken from a friend’s wallet at a popular tourist attraction at Muri Beach”] a smoke signaller writes: “I was with the person who claimed his money was stolen.
Reckless on Raro's roads
Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
After reading in yesterday’s CI News about the 11 year old who fell off the back of a pick-up truck, a smoke signaller writes: “Just at the weekend I saw two female tourists on a bike with a toddler straddled in between them; a toddler seated in front of a local rider on a motorbike; watched as a police truck swerved head on towards an idiot overtaking a line of cars – at night; and on Sunday spotted four young fellas riding slowly, two abreast, right in front of a busload of tourists off the cruise liner.
We're not the 'little people'!
Saturday 20 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “There is currently a disturbing trend for those people in positions of power, including the prime minister, to describe some citizens of the Cook Islanders as the ‘little people’.
CIP govt 'already sacked'
Friday 19 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to Tepapaura Hunt’s letter to the editor on Wednesday ‘The real crux of the matter’, a smoke signaller writes: “Te akakite nei koe i te tika e Mama Tepapaura.
Fish figures 'don't add up'
Thursday 18 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to Tuesday’s front page article ‘Quotas to be imposed on future tuna catches’ a smoke signaller writes: “One local Cook Islands’ owned vessel that is smaller than the Chinese vessels and is fishing in the same area as the Chinese, averaged approx 600 tonnes per year for many years.
Pension deductions 'avoid shock'
Tuesday 16 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
An 80 year old pensioner writes: “The far more credible New Zealand pay as you earn (PAYE) pension tax system, which automatically deducts tax on advice of Work and Income New Zealand, is simple and acceptable to most pensioners there.
Seabed minerals 'tit for tat'
Saturday 13 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: Although the Cook Islands Herald (10 April) suitably admonished, chastised and ridiculed Paul Lynch [Seabed Minerals commissioner] for his stance over the Chinese visitors, the matter remains that they overturned press freedoms in agreeing to his request that the “little people” need not decide whether newsworthy material is of any interest.
Refund old tank owners
Thursday 11 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Did you know readers are already bored with Leader of the Opposition, Wilkie Rasmussen?” a smoke signaller writes.
New pipes, same pressure
Wednesday 10 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Irony of the week: The waterline contractors in Avarua using garden hoses dribbling water to wet the backfill going into the trenches before compaction.
Government's 'sinister, dark, sad side'
Tuesday 9 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Teuira Ka’s letter brings out a more sinister, dark and sad side of government,” a smoke signaller writes in response to Ka’s letter to the editor yesterday ‘CIP govt carnival must end’.
Finance centre damage control
Monday 8 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “The front page of Saturday’s paper has the Financial Services Development Authority saying “anyone forming a trust, companyin the Cook Islands must provide full disclosure about who is involved with the entity and where the money has come from”.