Smoke Signals
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 […]
Govt wants all the building blocks
Wednesday 9 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller “wholeheartedly agrees” with Monday’s article ‘Scrapping of budget committee a grave mistake’. “I read today in NZaid’s ‘Currents’ magazine (Issue 16 Aug 2009) about New Zealand prime minister John Key’s visit to the Cook Islands. In reference to NZaid he said: ‘A vibrant and well-supported private sector is an essential building block […]
Finish the job, please
Wednesday 9 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Dear Editor, As both a taxpayer and motorist, it is my guess that a considerable amount of money, manpower and machinery have been used over the past three months or so to clean up the roadsides around Rarotonga, so as to improve drainage and prevent future roadside flooding during times of heavy rain fall. Fair […]
What sweetheart deal?
Tuesday 8 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to the Saturday smoke signal ‘Who gets the house?’ a smoke signaller writes: “What ‘PM House in Nikao’ is being referred to? As far as I know, there is no PM House in Nikao, Rarotonga – nor in the Cook Islands. Tell your smoke signal writer to get his/her facts right before stating anything […]
Island tractors: who's the boss?
Saturday 5 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
The Chinese funded tractors for agricultural purposes landed in Mangaia on Wednesday and were cleared from the boat on Thursday – one for Oneroa, Ivirua and Tamarua. The Government apparently has given authority to the Member of Parliament of each constituency to decide who should manage their constituency tractors. A smoke signaller writes: “Tamarua representatives […]
Will tractors lift island output?
Thursday 3 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Does anyone really think new tractors are the missing link between land and productivity in the outer islands?” a smoke signaller asks following the donation of tractors courtesy of China. “Did anyone ask the outer islands what they needed before going begging? More things mean more maintenance and more costs; just paying for the freight […]
Let's divide rubbish, again
Monday 31 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes to TXT188: “Seeing that having to separate everyone’s recyclables from the rubbish is slowing the poor rubbish collectors down, maybe they should offer an incentive to everyone: separate your own recyclables, otherwise the collectors won’t take it!” SmokeSignals: But isn’t it a shame that many people were already separating their rubbish […]
How much are they paid?
Tuesday 25 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “In the vein of transparency no doubt desired by the new government, could the public be informed of the remuneration of the economic task force?” SmokeSignals: We’ve made inquiries – see article above. As Cyclone Wilma churns through the Tonga islands after lashing American Samoa over the weekend, maps predicting where […]
WAIHEKE SHARES OUR CHALLENGES HEADACHE CURE CENTRE LESS BUMPY APOLOGY TO RASMUSSEN
Monday 24 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Good on you minister Heather for taking the initiative to go and see first hand the waste management systems in Gisborne, Opotiki and Wairoa,” a smoke signaller writes in response to an article in Saturday’s CINews about his forthcoming NZ-funded tour of waste and sanitation schemes. “Finding a permanent solution to our pollution problems is […]
Representation without taxation
Saturday 22 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The American Revolution was founded on the principle of ‘no taxation without representation and no representation without taxation’,” a smoke signaller writes. “What is now proposed by the Cook Islands Government is that 14 non-taxed constituencies are supported by 10 taxed constituencies and we are going to be faced with the weird proposition that a […]
How simple is it to keep a country beautiful?”
Wednesday 19 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller joins the debate on the felling of trees on Rarotonga deemed dangerous and writes: “Hey Mr Smoke Signal, how come Hawaii and California can have tall palms and coconut trees and no one gets killed or sued? Could it be they regularly de-nut and prune old leaves? How simple is it to […]
Rounding up the shopping cents
Monday 17 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“From the attached receipt (see photo below right) you will see that I purchased goods to the value of $16.02 at Foodland this afternoon [Friday],” a smoke signaller writes. “The receipt shows that rounding was applied to bring the total to $16.05. It also shows that I tendered a $50.00 note to pay for these […]
A letter from the mayor
Saturday 15 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I have very little respect for prominent persons who use profanity in public,” a smoke signaller writes, most probably in response to yesterday’s headline ‘One big F up’. “Their view can still be made known without subjecting the reading public to such vulgarity. Please consider our school age readers and readers who don’t condone profanity […]
Fix the disgusting stench in Avana
Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Instead of cutting down killer coconut trees, can the Ministry of Works guys do something about the disgusting mess at the bridge opposite the Ngatangiia CICC at Avana?” pleads a smoke signaller. “Driving past, you notice the stench getting stronger and stronger every day. I almost vomited when I walked past there this morning. It […]