Smoke Signals
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”.
Farewell Cook Islanders
Saturday 6 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The smoke signal asking where was destination Cook Islands for the maiden voyage to Rarotonga of the cruise ship Marina on Wednesday missed a vital clue,” texts a smoke signaller.
'Second-class citizens'
Friday 5 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The Prime Minister’s department pa enua governance unit calls a spade a spade!” a smoke signaller writes.
Where is Destination Cook Islands?
Thursday 4 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“So we have this massive cruise ship anchor off Rarotonga on Wednesday with over a thousand passengers and what was on offer for them?” a smoke signaller asks.
Get smart, you can't eat light bulbs
Wednesday 3 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The prime minister’s drive for renewable energy is commended, but not at the expense of the current living standards that our people are facing,” a smoke signaller writes.
Where are our players?
Tuesday 2 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Let’s all get on the bandwagon and revert to the age-old and worldwide response when a team doesn’t perform as we all had hoped they would – SACK the coach,” a smoke signaller writes.
Opposition's take on tax review
Thursday 28 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
As Leader of the Opposition I want to categorically say that I and the Democratic Party members of parliament support the tax review.
An 'annual requirement'
Thursday 28 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“It was great to read that the two lawyers on the front of Saturday’s paper, during their admission to the bar, “promised to conduct themselves honestly”,” a smoke signaller writes.
Dust eaters get brief break
Tuesday 26 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
As the project to lay new water pipes along and across the main road in Avarua continues, a smoke signaller dusts off their keyboard to write: “On Friday morning last, just before rush hour, a water truck wet down the dry dirt on the road in Tupapa and all the homeowners, merchants, cafe and restaurant operators breathed a big sigh of relief thinking, ‘Someone really does give a sh*t’.
Leave 'little people' alone
Friday 22 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“As soon as finance minister Mark Brown finishes his tax review he goes after the little people at the Punanga Nui market,” a smoke signaller writes.
'Don't tax' market vendors
Thursday 21 March 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller says finance secretary Richard Neves and the Revenue Management Division of MFEM should stop worrying about gathering tax from Punanga Nui market vendors.