Smoke Signals
Solomons opens telecom to all
Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller quips “Everywhere but the Cooks” as he sends across an article from Pacific Periscope which reveals that the Solomon Islands is about to launch revolutionary ‘class licences’ for telecommunications. “Following the rapid pace of reform in the country’s telecommunications sector, the Solomon Islands government this week has announced the launch of what […]
Rewarding the govt for airline loyalty
Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Air New Zealand is playing semantics,” says a smoke signaller in response to yesterday’s article about the airline not budging from its policy that AirPoints is a reward for individual travellers and not the entity that pays or sponsors the airfare. Numerous Cook Islands governments have unsuccessfully lobbied the airline to allow AirPoints earned from […]
Is anybody home?
Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Just wondering what has been organised for warning systems in the outer islands?” asks a smoke signaller following yesterday morning’s Pacific-wide tsunami warning as a result of the massive 8.9 earthquake in Japan. “Just heard some people living on north coast of Mauke knew nothing of the tsunami until they woke up this morning, and […]
Blues artist back in Raro
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
California blues songster Diana Harris – whose husky vocals remind critics of Renee Geyer, Sharon Jones and Gladys Knight – performs tonight at the Little Polynesian. Harris first performed on Rarotonga at Billy TK Jnr’s Cook Islands Jazz and Blues Festival three years ago, and since then has returned each year to the ‘magic’ she […]
Only one choice: not to hit
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“At the 100th celebration of International Women’s Day, Punanga Tauturu manager Kairangi Samuela said men have the choice whether to ‘hit her or not’,” writes a smoke signaller. “When are we ever going to learn there is only ONE choice – NOT to hit her? C’mon Kairangi – what we should be educating our people […]
Counting potential Chinese tourists
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to yesterday’s CI News article about our country looking to progress a memorandum of understanding on travel with China – which recognises the Cooks as a preferred destination for Chinese travellers – a smoke signaller writes: “If the population of China is 1.5 billion and 0.5% travel and ‘we only need 0.001% of that’, […]
Inaccurate reporting!
Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “I note in this morning’s paper (last page on Saturday re Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee celebrates 24th birthday) that CISNOC’s president Sir Geoffrey was reported to have made a ‘short speech’… Everyone knows Sir Geoffrey does not make short speeches!” “This Smoke signaller notes that Norman George said […]
Land today, road tomorrow
Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Wake up landowners of Rarotonga!” shouts a smoke signaller. “Minister Teariki Heather’s explanation [see yesterday’s front page article Widening Explained] for why government is taking soil from the roadsides is deliberate obfuscation for stealing the land from under your feet. If anyone bothers to check, you will find that half the soil is being removed […]
Vulgar and disgusting
Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Dear Editor, I write in regard to Ken Kingsbury’s question of February 23, Where’s all the good music? You are very right Ken. Where’s all the good music indeed? I do wonder what some song writers are thinking about when writing the lyric to a song. One song that has a very catchy tune caught […]
Could local net be free?
Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Our internet link to the outside world takes place via satellite and Telecom Cook Islands CEO Jules Maher says these satellite services are expensive (see his letter to the editor yesterday). A smoke signaller makes a suggestion: “Why not allow all internet transmission within Rarotonga to be free to TCI customers and only charge once […]
Tereora barrier removed
Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
The road crossing barrier between Tereora College and the Turamatuitui store in Nikao has been removed due to the number of accidents that have occurred at the barrier since it was erected some four years ago. Police inspector Tere Patia says that around five accidents have occurred at the barrier crossing which was initially installed […]
Kiss your grass goodbye
Saturday 26 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The genius idea behind grading the verge of the main road was to remove all the holes and puddles,” a smoke signaller writes. “Well that is working – the puddles are now a bit further off the road. Otherwise the arterial vandalism raises at least two questions: (1) Where the work goes outside of the […]
Island meeting talks over our heads
Thursday 24 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Has anyone noticed the irony and parody – or indeed does anyone care – behind the two obscure regional training workshops underway in Rarotonga this week? It says something about the dysfunction within our own public sector. First there’s the gathering of cabinet secretariat and public service commission heads, talkfesting to themselves about good governance […]
Speeding sign in an accident
Tuesday 22 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I noticed on Monday morning that the speeding warning sign in Matavera was crashed into and totally smashed to pieces over the weekend,” a smoke signaller writes. “I see that event as both a little funny but also dumb and dumber. That accident is what you call an ‘ironic juxtaposition of events’, meaning the road […]
Culture damages lagoon health?
Monday 21 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller responds to those opposed to the removal of the fish trap in the Muri Lagoon who say it would be cultural vandalism. “Here are some good examples of cultural vandalism: when certain Ngatangiia fishermen catch ature [Bigeye scad] via the fish traps and take off home without the usual tradition of sharing […]
The real result of the pa meeting
Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Has anyone who WASN’T at the fish trap meeting in Avana bothered to ask Ina Organ who took the minutes on the night how many people attended and what the meeting concluded with?” a smoke signaller asks. “I know because I was there and the result was 15 people in attendance, mainly Muri Environment Care […]
Two thumbs up for Maggie's stance
Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I agree with George Maggie that the $5000 MPs clothing allowance should be used for better things,” a smoke signaller writes following the Tupapa MP’s statements to the CINews on Friday in response to suggestions the government is to reinstate the MP’s clothing allowance which will cost a total of $120,000. “And even better, the […]
No more travel secrecy
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Prime Minister Henry Puna’s excellent decision to lift the secrecy surrounding the travel costs of Members of Parliament calls into question the integrity of all past governments that have fought to keep the ban in place. In Saturday’s CINews the PM said he didn’t know “why these figures have been so top secret…there’s nothing sensitive […]
Judging the jetty's blank sheet
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“This jetty project for Arorangi is certainly a bit confusing to us simple minded citizens,” a smoke signaller says. “The environmental impact assessment is done and at Environment Service waiting to be published and the $200,000 design is yet to be done. How on earth does the public judge the environmental impact of what is […]
Why spend $20,000 on Manihiki trip?
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Did the Prime Minister’s office really need to spend $20,000 on airfares to take them to Manihiki for a three-day visit?” a smoke signaller asks. “The PM stated he wasn’t going to ‘sack’ anyone, yet I believe he’s in Manihiki now trying to sack the island secretary. Did it really need seven top officials to […]