Smoke Signals
Nations can't keep borrowing
Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “The wise Chinese philosopher Confucius says ‘man with hand in other man’s pocket not feeling himself today’. Forty years ago that was a terrible giggly school kid joke; now it comes back to mind as a terrible reality worldwide as nations live on credit. Just how long can you have your […]
Don Dorrell is right about the rocks
Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to letters to the editor over the past few days ‘Avatiu rock wall ‘dangerous’ and ‘Rock wall is in breach of law’ a smoke signaller writes: “Don Dorrell’s expert comments are true about the rock wall at the Avatiu harbour. The key question is, are Bim Tou [Ports Authority general manager] and Mike Henry […]
Consider the landing fees Kia Orana Air will pay
Thursday 1 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to yesterday’s front page article ‘International airport land tenders rejected’ a smoke signaller writes: “Joe Ngamata, CEO of the Airport Authority says ‘We are going to negotiate with the interested parties to plot the best way forward’. Let’s hope that the Authority’s ‘bidding war’ for a section of land between the Air New […]
Is this another of those deals?
Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“So, Air New Zealand wants the Cook Islands to subsidise its increased fuel costs on the Los Angeles and Sydney routes?”a smoke signaller writes. “One wonders how it is recovering its increased fuel costs on its other routes? How is any other airline recovering its increased fuel costs, or any other increased costs? One would […]
Promote Rarotonga as 'a stopover'
Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“This massive subsidy to Air New Zealand [$12.5 million] is certainly a talking point in the Cook Islands where the people are finding it hard to come to terms with such a sum to attract tourists,” a smoke signaller writes. “From Sydney to Rarotonga seems a reasonably sensible subsidy given the population of Australia and […]
Koru lounge or staff pay?
Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “It is actually quite devious of the high-ranking CISNOC defenders to let us know coincidentally that the Air NZ Koru Club members of the team have repaid the money they took for their memberships. The treasurer should be the one reporting this, but once again it’s part of the make-it-up-as-we-go spin […]
Love birds, more like it!
Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Torrid? Is that what Wilkie Rasmussen and Henry Puna call it? Ha!” quips a smoke signaller after predictions that this would be the nature of Parliamentary debates between the opposition Democratic Party and ruling Cook Islands Party. “These two guys are as torrid as two love birds on the Rarotonga Golf Club course!” An on […]
Tighter rein needed in the House
Thursday 23 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “It sounds like Parliament has become a bit of a shambles without the Speaker Sir Geoffrey Henry, who is overseas on medical leave. He would have kept a tighter rein on procedure and respect than it sounded like on Wednesday. How is it that vocal MPs on one day, like Norman […]
Tough times, not markets, closing stores
Wednesday 22 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Night markets are not responsible for the closures of ma and pa stores,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s smokie ‘Markets closing shops?’ “They are indicative of the current tough economic climate experienced by a lot of businesses on the island. The night markets are occurring as a response to customer market demand […]
What's the Air New Zealand deal?
Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Saturday’s somewhat depressing news headline ‘Airline subsidy rises to $12.5m’ prompted one smoke signaller to ask government to reveal what exactly is in the contract deal with Air New Zealand. “And is there a ceiling or limit to the actual monetary level of exposure?” Another signaller writes: “After reading your airline subsidy story on Saturday, […]
Leadership posturing is just opportunism
Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Norman George’s posturing for leadership of the Democratic Party is pretty low. For many his announcement on Saturday will be socially and culturally offensive. It’s just opportunism of him to be making political capital out of Robert Wigmore’s illness. It says more about Norman’s character than anything else, and hopefully Wilkie and the others will […]
When will the rot stop at CISNOC?
Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The rot at the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee continues,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s p7 article ‘Special CISNOC meeting postponed’. “Payments of over $9000 of per diems to Sir Geoff and Rosie in Noumea and over $4000 for Koru Club fees in my opinion is downright daylight robbery. The […]
'No job losses' sure to be bunkum
Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Navy Epati should be promoted from Public Service Commissioner to head of the Prime Minister’s Office so that he can dictate everything,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s lead CINews article ‘We are not in a crisis’. “His blather in Friday’s media statement about the Public Sector functional review is the sort of […]
More heading for Perth
Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I’m totally with what Jason Tini was saying in the paper a couple of weeks ago about him and his family moving to Perth,” a smoke signaller writes. “I was a staunch Cook Islands Party supporter but now I’ve given up with all the lies and bullshit. I’m relocating my family of seven to Aussie. […]
Local sevens players 'snubbed'
Thursday 2 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
“It‘s poor management from Cook Islands Rugby Union to allow all players and officials for the Wellington sevens tournament to come from overseas,” a signaller texts. “Our local players have been snubbed. They are better than the overseas players. Time for a change at the next AGM.” Commenting on the Scott’s Farm odour issue, a […]
Chook poop sham
Wednesday 1 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
What an absolute sham this survey of the Muri chook poop smell problem has become, a smoke signaller writes. The whole thing is corrupt and ridiculous. The idea of the survey was to test and investigate public complaints about the chicken farm and in particular the smell coming from the farm property. Obviously this survey […]
One Foot over the line
Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes that a German man resident in New Zealand, who is alleged to have made hundreds of millions of dollars profit from his computer file sharing website megaupload.com, should be welcomed to the Cook Islands with open arms. Kim Dotcom would bring all that lovely money he has stashed away and then […]
Planning ahead for the future: Yeah right!
Wednesday 25 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: I see New Zealands Prime Minister John Key is warning New Zealanders of tougher economic times ahead, where careful expenditure will be the order of the day. Now the Hon. Henry Puna, and Hon. Mark Brown might be smarter than their NZ counterparts, but they have yet to show where they […]
Brakes on, brakes off
Tuesday 24 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes to TXT188: In response to the slow-driving Mr Miyagi [Papa Louis] complaint: Who says youre forced to overtake? Is there a law that says you must overtake slow drivers? Personally, Im more worried about those who speed! In addition, I must agree with the smoke signal in Thursdays CINews [Relax and […]
OJ to NZ, not noni to China
Friday 20 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
How disappointing to read minister Teina Bishops comments in Wednesdays CI News [Major noni deal sours] in respect of the noni juice to China debacle with Mr Chen, the well documented, apparently rather unsavoury character, a smoke signaller writes. Minister Bishop stated: Nothing has happened. I think Ill just go back and keep hassling them, […]