Smoke Signals
Roasting his own coffee
Tuesday 11 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
One thing this picture says about Neil Dearlove – master coffee roaster, barista and The Caf proprietor – is that he has a keen sense of humour. Not many coffee vendors the world over would be brave enough to advertise ‘rotten food and lousy coffee’, but in Neil’s case it’s just a matter of wearing […]
Leaders' energy a good omen
Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
“What a breath of fresh air last week to hear candidly from three of our new cabinet members, who’re obviously full of energy, attitude and ready-to-go thinking,” a smoke signaller writes. “Obviously our new leaders haven’t gone to sleep over the festive season, and their brains have been fully engaged. It’s not just good copy […]
A minister with attitude
Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Infrastructure and Planning minister Teariki Heather hit the headlines yesterday saying that he wants to restructure his ministry to improve the attitudes of his staff, punctuality and bring pride back to their work. A smoke signaller responds: “With regards to what Minister Teariki is trying to achieve with public service attitude, I hope the rest […]
Movies are 'cheaper here'
Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to Wednesday’s signaller who hoped that the clampdown on pirated video sales might lead to a reduction in the price of going to the movies, a smoke signaller writes to TXT188: “Why should Empire [Theatre] drop their prices? At the end of the day they still have to pay movie companies every time they […]
Live with the vehicle abuse
Thursday 6 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s front page article ‘Govt vehicle policy’: “While the Public Service Commissioner is asking heads of government ministries if they should hang up their car keys after hours, it would make just as much sense for the Ministry of Justice to ask the prisoners at Arorangi where the […]
Trees not a threat
Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Stop the nutcase who ordered the chainsaw massacre of coconut trees at the Golf Club road as shown in your CINews photo on Wednesday, or we will be left with no more nu to drink on the island. Our parents taught us at an early age to plant trees that bear […]
Looking for a Christmas message
Thursday 30 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I was interested in your Christmas and New Year messages [see CI News Friday, December 24] from what I personally considered too many personalities,” a smoke signaller writes. “I wonder how many readers ploughed their way through all of them?” SmokeSignals: Many would have done so – reading other people’s thoughts and wishes is always […]
Remove nuts, not trees
Wednesday 29 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“A new broom certainly sweeps clean, or should that be chain saw gang?” asks a smoke signaller. “The trouble with the area adjacent to the Golf Club this ‘broom’ swept is that there are NO coconut trees left! What sort of idiot would have authorised this clean-up? If there was a problem with tita, Aunty […]
Reo Maori knowledge is here
Thursday 23 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I can see from your article on ‘Funding boost for Reo Maori’ [see yesterday’s CINews], why the previous commission failed,” a smoke signaller writes. “It simply did not engage the appropriate cross-section of the community. Where are the Kai Korero taunga, teachers of Te Reo, culture and performing arts, outer island reps etc? A non-Maori […]
Pirates of the Pacific
Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I don’t hire pirate DVDs because not only is it wrong, but the quality sucks and I feel I have been ripped off,” a smoke signaller writes to TXT188. “I agree with Movie Lover’s letter ‘Bring back originals’ [see Monday’s CINews, p6]. Anyway, what’s the point having a huge high definition flat screen TV with […]
Copying local stuff ok?
Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The advocates of pirate DVD’s, please answer one question,” asks a smoke signaller. “Is it all right for a local to go to town and buy up legal copies of Cook Islands music CDs and DVDs of cultural events, and make pirate copies of those and sell/rent them out?” AIRLINE COOKILEAKS Prime Minister Henry Puna […]
Monument Builder strikes again
Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Olympic House? You’ve got to be kidding!” exclaims a smoke signaller in reference to the proposed new building that would primarily house the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee. “The Monument Builder is at it again, and will most likely name it after himself if given a chance (after a naming competition has been […]
History of greed repeated
Saturday 18 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The news that officials of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee plan a $1.5 million office building substantially for themselves does not surprise,” writes a smoke signaller. “This is history being repeated. A number of the people promoting the new building are also the ones who promoted the Telecom Sports Arena at Nikao […]
Linking to a 'truly Pacific airline'
Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The government is deciding on three subsidised airline routes into the Cook Islands,” writes a smoke signaller. “This is an important decision as a lot of Cook Islands taxpayer money is involved to fund any airline subsidy. Air Pacific – recently awarded a top airline rating in the aviation world – is where the Cook […]
Contribution more than $200M
Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller calculates that the Cook Islands’ contribution to the New Zealand economy is much higher – by more than a factor of 10 – than the already large amount indicated in yesterday’s Kata cartoon. The cartoon shows NZ Green Party MP Keith Locke ranting about how the country should reconsider aid to Niue, […]
For whom the road tolls
Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“It appears that our country is not only in the 10 most dangerous places in the world to drive but in actual fact is the second most dangerous place in the world to drive!” a smoke signaller writes after reading an online slideshow ‘The 10 most dangerous countries to drive in’ (see link at end […]
Uniform of a bygone era
Monday 13 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I note that air conditioning costs in the very inferior Ministry of Justice building [see Justice secretary Mark Short’s letter in Saturday’s CINews] are around $50,000 a year – disgraceful!” writes a smoke signaller. “While we wait for the honorable gentlemen from Asia to fix the system, why not revert to days gone by? Allow […]
Island casinos a gamble
Saturday 11 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“China is building a 40 unit tourist accommodation on our neighbouring island state of Niue,” a smoke signaller writes. “I read in the Cook Islands News that Niue is apparently also building a casino – how dumb is this? Never mind what quality the tourist accommodation will be: Chinese gamblers go to Macau in the […]
Dangling nuts a concern
Thursday 9 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Have you noticed as you drive around the island the number of coconut trees, heavily laden with nuts, leaning on the road?” a smoke signaller asks. “Or the kikau (fronds) ready to drop off. This is a time bomb waiting to fall on an unsuspecting pedestrian, a bike rider or smashing on someone’s windscreen and […]
South coast speedsters
Tuesday 7 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Surely the police must be aware of the speed track across the island from the Saltwater Caf right through to the Vaima Restaurant where consistently motorbikes exceed 60 km per hour and more?” an annoyed smoke signaller writes. “It’s outrageous. Some of these bikes have very high powered engines and make an awful racket. Sunday […]