Smoke Signals
Working for the 'Economic Games'
Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I think what they are suggesting is secondment,” writes a smoke signaller on the contentious election issue of how to effectively utilise the country’s large public service. “It’s like we handled the Mini Games: those who could be spared – and there were many – were redirected to other jobs, like drivers, liaison officers, catering […]
Battling the Man-of-War
Friday 22 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Those watching vaka races from the comfort of local watering holes sometimes have small green bottles in their hands, but the paddlers battling it out on the water have another colour of bottle to watch for, the painful stinging bluebottle. The Rarotongan name for the Pacific Portuguese Man-of-War is tu-pakipaki-tai and the type found in […]
Please leave it to the private sector
Thursday 21 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “The Cook Islands Investment Corporation was set up during the reform years to monitor the performance of state-owned enterprises and report their results to Cabinet and eventually the Parliament. One of the principles of the reform was to leave commercial activities to the private sector where they can best do the […]
On a roll online
Tuesday 19 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
With the general elections less than a month away, those who want to check their name on the main electoral rolls for the country’s 24 constituencies have another option to view the rolls, thanks to the Cook Islands Statistics Office’s website. Go to www.stats.gov.ck and scroll down the left hand index column to the heading […]
Focus on health education
Monday 18 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Good luck to Teariki Matenga wanting to focus on health education in his political campaign [as an independent candidate for Titikaveka]. Let’s hope that if he gets in he can change the kinds of things that are currently happening in education such as a college HOD Physical Education and Health teacher […]
Restoring the economy
Thursday 14 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Is there more than one Tepaki (Tim)?” asks a smoke signaller. “Or is the Tim Tepaki quoted in your newspaper as backing the political movement that is going to restore the economy of the Cook Islands and bring local wages up to New Zealand wages the same Tim Tepaki who said the Hilton was going […]
Same old, same old promises
Wednesday 13 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Here we go again, promises, promises, we will, we can,” complains a smoke signaller. “People are not stupid listening to all this garbage each time they read the newspapers or listen to the radio. It’s like we already know what each party is going to say to us – after 10 years they are still […]
Together we can...
Tuesday 12 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The Cook Islands Party election campaign slogan hasn’t changed much from 2006,” a smoke signaller notes. “Back then it was ‘Together we can make it better’ and now it’s just ‘Together we can’. Are they hoping the success of US president Barack Obama’s campaign slogan will win them this election? Has the CIP given up […]
Eat healthy, vote longer
Saturday 9 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The Democratic Party has found a way to get more votes in future – make sure supporters live longer. As part of its campaign to promote healthy eating habits and longevity of Cook Islanders, the party made sure there wasn’t any heavy food on the menu at the launch of its national election campaign on […]
Delhi underbelly – don't forget to look behind facade
Thursday 7 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I hope the Cook Islands group at the Commonwealth Games will look behind the faade in Delhi to see how the REAL world has to survive, in the pits hidden from view,” writes a smoke signaller. He also asks: “How many public servants are on ‘national representation leave’ to attend the Delhi Games? That is, […]
Charmers and ei katu
Monday 4 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Those who were up in the wee hours of the morning yesterday to watch the opening of the Delhi Commonwealth Games live on TV, or who caught the replay in the afternoon, would have noticed our team looking great wearing their colourful ei katu (floral headwear). If you thought the team hunted around Delhi to […]
Sir Terepai going Indy?
Saturday 2 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A well placed source in Sir Terepai Maoate’s camp has hinted in a smoke signal that the sitting MP may run as an independent in the November 17 general elections. In Wednesday’s vote by financial members of the Democratic Party in the Ngatangiia constituency – and a good number of Cook Islands Party members also […]
What a cock up!
Friday 1 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller reckons Tourism boss Carmel Beattie is “putting the cart before the horse by trying to attract tourists but not sorting out problems in the country”, in this particular caller’s case, noisy roosters. He said he knows of people who visit Rarotonga once but will not return because of roosters keeping them awake […]
Loss will see votes cross
Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The winner of yesterday’s run-off to select a candidate to represent the Democratic Party in the Ngatangiia constituency in the November 17 general election will have a huge uphill battle to consolidate the Demo votes in the next 48 days. The divisions run so deep that prior to the run-off at least one of the […]
Spurned habitats 'would be ready'
Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Following Cyclone Pat’s path of destruction through Aitutaki a little over seven months ago – and with the new cyclone season a month away – a smoke signaller writes: “None of the replacement houses being built on Aitutaki are even close to being finished except for the show house which finally has walls and windows. […]
Are they all Demo members?
Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
There’s been a flurry of activity in Ngatangiia in the past weeks as the two contenders vying for the Democratic Party candidacy and their committees have been chasing as many potential voters as possible to ensure they are fully paid-up members of the party. The $2 membership fee (closes at 12 noon today apparently) means […]
Where does the fat batch go?
Monday 27 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to the article ‘Palm apologises for fat batch’ in last week’s CINews: “McCallum Industries (Palm Corned Beef) states ‘Regular Palm Corned Beef is not a mass produced product and specific recipes are applied to our various markets. The product we produce for the Cook Islands has a lower fat […]
Vancouver flight dreamin'
Saturday 25 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A Canadian writing from the capital of the province of British Columbia says one of his dreams will come true if a direct flight operates between Vancouver and the Cook Islands. Ray Powell from Victoria, BC (“near Vancouver!”) says travelling to Rarotonga via Los Angeles in the United States “is a royal pain!” Cook Islands […]
Wall has health benefits
Friday 24 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes tongue-in-cheek: “The Small Wall of China recently installed in the courthouse has two admirable qualities, clearly designed to enhance the health of us all. When a member of the public rings to speak with someone, the receptionist cannot see if the person is at their desk. This means that the receptionist […]
Just having a ball
Thursday 23 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to the recent article ‘The last waltz looms’ published prior to the Tereora College Ball: “In the articles about the school ball it clearly says that males cannot wear black skinny jeans, but then in the ‘Top Ten Tips’ for the ball it says something clearly different. It suggests […]