Smoke Signals
The best lit hotel on the island
Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller asks: ”Can someone please explain why the new Ministry of Education (The Fire Station) is always the best lit hotel on the island every night? Unless you can give a good reason it seems to me as the most stupid and wasteful way to spend money that is supposed to go to […]
Public paying for chickens?
Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaler writes: ”It may look like a humanitarian gesture but the handing out of 15 free cartons of chicken to all the island tere parties by Cabinet ministers shows signs of desperation and could lead to allegations of favoritism. This is the second year that the CIP-led Puna government has done this and […]
Another CIP entitlement?
Wednesday 25 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller asks: ”Why should Mark Brown and entourage go to the London Olympics at all? Is this just because he is Minister for Sport? Is this another one of those CIP (Cook Islands Party) entitlements that go with the job? What nonsense – the money could be better spent elsewhere. And what will […]
Talk about ambush marketing
Monday 23 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
KEEP the smokies rolling in! Smoke Signals and interesting island photos will be accepted by email (smokesignals@cookislandsnews.com), or text to 188 or a phone call to the newsroom on 22-999.
Rugby's upset win
Friday 20 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: ”When you read the headline of Monday’s back page sports article ‘Upset win to Titikaveka Bulls’ you would think that the article would elaborate more about the game. Instead, in the article there were only two sentences that talked about the game. The article talked more about the Eels vs Panthers […]
Hawaiian stopover?
Tuesday 17 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Hawaiian Airlines have just announced they will fly three times a week from Auckland to Honolulu come March next year,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”Wow! Here is an opportunity that must be taken very seriously by Cook Islands Tourism and could well mean dispensing with the expensive subsidy to Air New Zealand. If Hawaiian Airlines […]
Minister's response 'petty and weak'
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”The response from the deputy prime minister is both petty and weak,“ a smoke signaller writes following Friday’s page 7 article ‘DPM rejects independent shippers’ plea’ which quoted Transport Minister Tom Marsters’ strongly-worded email to Pacific Forum Line chief Henning Hanson, berating him for what Marsters viewed as his ”offhand, arrogant and disrespectful treatment“ of […]
$330,000 for health, not VIP lounge
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”In reference to Wednesday’s front page article, all Cook Islanders would commend government for giving recognition to the five medical professionals for their meritorious service to the nation and people of the Cook Islands,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”However, I’d like to comment on the article where the minister is quoted as saying that ‘health […]
International calling down
Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Telecom had an intermittent problem with its calling system on Sunday, meaning some Cook Islands customers could not make international calls. The problem was not due to any maintenance carried out by Telecom, although it occurred after a scheduled upgrade on their system on Sunday morning. ”The problem was intermittent, which means that calls would […]
You wear a helmet first!
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”To those who say ‘wear the helmet’ why don’t you make the move and start wearing the helmet rather than wait for it to be a law?“ a smoke signaller writes. ”Then tell your kids, your parents and your friends to wear a helmet and see if they will before you start telling others to […]
Govt must make helmets compulsory
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”I say that the law must be changed to make motorcyclists wear helmets at all times,“ writes a smoke signaller on this important issue facing the country. ”Wearing helmets must be at all times, not only when going a certain speed. Once you lay the law to wear a helmet, no one should be exempted […]
Ariki day food 'a burden' to the people
Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Ariki Day is turning out to be a burden on the people,“ a smoke signaller wrote us on the eve of the country’s first Ra o te Ui Ariki national holiday yesterday, which replaces the individual island gospel days. ”Leave Puaikura to do the hosting this year, then when it’s the next vaka’s turn, Puaikura […]
Our fish: what's going on?
Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to yesterday’s page 12 media release from the Ministry of Marine resources ‘Fisheries net $3.7m in revenues’ a smoke signaller writes: ”Why is it that two people with very little knowledge of the tuna fishery in the Cook Islands, i.e. the Secretary and the Minister for Marine Resources, are able to sell off […]
What do we get for $28m wharf upgrade?
Friday 29 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”A couple of years ago,“ a smoke signaller writes, ”the owners of the shipping company that services Raro and Aitutaki said words to the effect, ‘Extend Avatiu wharf to cater for a larger ship and we will reduce freight rates by at least 20 percent’. Yeah right, the same shipping company is now saying only […]
Emergency glitch prompts citizen rescue
Thursday 28 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A regular visitor to the island phoned in a smoke signal yesterday as follows: ”Two Americans had trouble while kayaking over the reef this week. People on the beach phoned the emergency service number 999 to relay the problem. It took 4 minutes to answer the phone; the call was transferred but it got disconnected. […]
Long weekend
Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
At the end of next week it will be a long weekend break in respect of the new annual public holiday, Ra o te Ui Ariki, which falls on Friday July 6. In earlier classified advertisements last week the Prime Minister’s Office stated the holiday would be on Wednesday July 6, but this should have […]
How many sharks were killed?
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to Thursday’s front page story ‘Vessel caught with shark fins’ and on page 6 ‘Three tonnes of shark fins allegedly found’, a smoke signaller asks three questions: ”Just how many sharks would have been killed to produce 3,000 kg of shark fins? What is the maximum fine that can be imposed on the offenders? […]
Go local, help local
Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Looks like the Business Trade and Investment Board is extending their services,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”In Monday’s article headed ‘Annual filing due’ for foreign enterprises they state: ‘It’s about being able to monitor the business’s finances and find out whether they’re doing well or not so we can help them.’ I’m wondering what kind […]
$44m in aid for next 12 months
Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
About $44 million in official development assistance funds will be spent during this financial year. That figure includes unspent funds of about $15m rolling over from last year’s Budget. Of the $44m, $16.6m is going toward water and sanitation – this represents the biggest component of overseas development assistance (ODA) – and $7.2 million toward […]
'Silly questions' answered
Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Minister of agriculture Nandi Glassie has accused the Opposition of asking ”silly questions“ about agriculture. Responding to a challenge to the government from Mitiaro MP Tangata Vavia to invest ”millions“ in agriculture, Glassie said the available acreage on the outer islands does not warrant an investment of that magnitude. Vavia had challenged the government to […]