Smoke Signals
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 […]
Which way Thursday?
Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Is the Hon. Norman George really that smart?“ a smoke signaller asks. ”If he really thinks that he can continue to outsmart the highest authority of this country and avoid the confidence vote in the budget every Parliament sitting, then we dare him to cast his five votes in the right place in the upcoming […]
Will purse seiners fish here?
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to a Tuesday CINews item: ”Regarding that article ‘Extra 20 fishing licences questioned’, how come other countries forbid purse seining and cancel renewing licences because they realised how bad it was for their own resources, and here in the Cook Islands we’re giving away our ocean to pillagers?“ SS: […]
Roadside rubbish vegetation piles irk
Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Congratulations to the ‘beautification’ gurus who are using a front end loader to push overgrown weeds, general rubbish and tons of topsoil on sections along the main road into piles a few metres off the road,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”One can almost hear the South Pacific Forum leaders as they pass by in their […]
Harpooner questions FAD ban
Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”I’ve got a question for the Ministry of Marine Resources,“ a smoke signaller writes to TXT188. ”Something I don’t understand is why harpooners are banned from the fish aggregation devices (FADs) any time, and spear fishing is allowed when there is no one around FADs? Harpooners are doing the same thing as spear fishermen – […]
Speeding through downtown Avarua
Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”In Thursday morning’s court report,“ a smoke signaller writes, ”there are the names of nine people who have been caught and fined for failing to stop at a stop sign. While there is nothing right about the action, one wonders how many fines are issued to all the people who overtake in a dangerous manner […]
Police patrol going too slow?
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: ”Maybe the reason the police vehicle hit the parked car early Saturday morning was that they were going sooooo sloooow that they went to sleep at the wheel! Why stand down the other officers in the vehicle when only one was driving?“ (See yesterday’s front page article ‘Police vehicle in crash’). […]
Must HOMs speak Maori?
Tuesday 5 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A reader phoned the newsroom complaining that the recent heads of department advert stipulated that applicants MUST be fluent in Maori. The caller was worried that this would isolate good people like Richard Neves. Public Service Commissioner Russell Thomas responded that it was not a condition of application for the positions and he said fluent […]
'Major disaster' if Avatiu silt kills coral
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Silt from the Avatiu Port dredging operation has flowed out to sea, covering the ocean floor from Avatiu to Tupapa,“ a smoke signaller warns. ”You can’t even see the ocean floor, and the coral will die as a result. The marine sector, dive tours and glass bottom tours stand to lose. What did the environmental […]
Island jewels to steal for
Wednesday 30 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Hats off to Immigration Cook Islands director Kave Ringi and his team for a job well done in apprehending and deporting a visitor to the Cooks who was connected to an organised Indonesian crime network using stolen credit cards to purchase airline tickets. Their work was obviously a result of drawn out investigations and excellent […]
Can big ships stay when planes land?
Tuesday 29 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”On the Avatiu wharf, could the investment of $28 million be wasted?“ a smoke signaller asks. ”Yep, in my opinion someone has botched up – no one checked on the height restriction for aircraft movements. A shipping company has bought a bigger ship to service the Cooks; the height of the ship is 50 metres […]