Smoke Signals
Raro's electric roads
Wednesday 25 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Before government spends too much time negotiating with TOA over the future of petroleum imports, it might not be a bad idea to get current on the pace of technology in regards electric vehicles,” a smoke signaller writes. “The biggest carmakers in the world are in a race to see who will take the biggest […]
Dangers of dog poo
Monday 23 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Why can’t dog owners keep dogs at home, and look after their poo if they are out on a leash?” asks a smoke signaller. “The dogs roam our beaches depositing their poo wherever they please. Why do we have to, in a small island of Rarotonga, be plagued by dogs when we have a paid […]
$50 departure tax better
Saturday 21 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
On the issue of the inclusion of departure tax and other charges in flight tickets, a smoke signaller writes: “I would suggest that ‘Check the facts’ keys into airnewzealand.com.au and checks any flight Sydney/Rarotonga (direct or via NZ) and you will see additional charges quoted at AU$72.58, Passenger Movement Charge AU$47 (NZ$60), Passenger Service Charge […]
Air NZ won't ticket tax
Friday 20 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Yesterday’s letter ‘Sort out departure tax’ which suggested the country’s $55 departure tax should be included in the price of an airline ticket to avoid any grumbling at departure time, drew two responses: “The reason we do not have the departure tax in the airline ticket prices is simple: Air New Zealand refuses to do […]
Plea from Aitutaki
Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Could one of your great reporters investigate what has happened to all the money so kindly given by so many to help the people of Aitutaki after cyclone Pat please?” asks a smoke signaller. “We have not seen any of it here and the sad part is that many people are still living like little […]
Private sector growth
Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I see the Prime Minister has made two new appointments on the Telecom Cook Islands board with representatives from the private sector,” a smoke signaller writes. “It is ‘to allow TCI to assume a more private sector ‘face’ in moving forward with its initiatives’. How about TCI and the PM – the current Telecommunications Minister […]
The Ngatangiia showdown
Tuesday 17 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The big GE is still 92 days away but it’s hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches at Ngatangiia over the selection of the constituency’s Democratic Party candidate, almost a very miniature version of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton slogging it out in the US for the Democratic presidential nomination two years ago. There’s a few smokies […]
PM Jim's had enough
Saturday 14 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Prime Minister Jim Marurai says he’s had enough of leading the country. In the latest issue of the Fiji-based magazine Islands Business, he’s quoted as saying that come the next general elections in November, he’ll stand for his Ivirua seat on Mangaia and reconnect with his constituents if he wins. “I can’t even trust my […]
Arise, sir Robert?
Wednesday 11 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Did the Suva-based South Pacific Tourism Organisation make a mistake in a press release this week, or has someone jumped the gun and released information about an event that hasn’t happened yet? In an SPTO press release about the World Shanghai Expo celebrating Cook Islands Day on August 4, the first paragraph refers to the […]
Still roofless after Pat
Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Can your paper ask the Aitutaki Raro community whatever happened to the money raised for the island?” a smoke signaller writes to TXT188. “Cyclone Pat hit in February and months later we have people here living in tents and the purpose of that was for it NOT to sit in the bank. Would be nice […]
Who's the dummy?
Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I wonder who is the dumb one here in regards to protocol?” asks a smoke signaller in response to yesterday’s smokie that suggested the government had no idea of protocol because the Minister of Culture arrived after the Deputy Prime Minister at the official opening of Te Maeva Nui last week. “Minister of Culture Cassey […]
No idea of protocol
Friday 6 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“At the opening ceremony of Te Maeva Nui at the Punanga Nui on Saturday, it was so embarrassing that this government has no idea of protocol,” a smoke signaller emails. “In normal situations, everyone will wait for the Prime Minister to be the last guest to arrive to an official function, but instead acting Prime […]
Make way! Make way!
Tuesday 3 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“One does have to wonder why the Minister of Culture requires a police escort to take her to the opening of the Te Maeva Nui,” a smoke signaller writes. “This entourage included two uniformed police officers on motor bikes, lights flashing, a driver driving the Minister, while she sat in the back seat doing her […]
Weet-bix ethics lesson
Saturday 31 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“It’s complete and utter nonsense for James Beer and the Solicitor-General to justify issuing five hardship loans to MPs (the Maoates) and even BTIB members on the basis there was ‘no conflict of interest’,” a smoke signaller writes. “Beer’s BTIB board has not properly explained why they changed the criteria, enabling the Maoates to access […]
Makea Takau penny stamps
Tuesday 27 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Are there any keen stamp collectors in the islands?” asks a smoke signaller. “I have come across a Cook Islands full mint sheet of 60 stamps issued in 1893 picturing Queen Makea Takau. The face value is 1d blue. Goodness knows what the value might be! The stamps are mint unused in pretty good order […]
Mangaia was already civilised
Saturday 24 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“A point for clarification please,” writes a smoke signaller. “The history reference in yesterday’s smokies titled ‘Backstabbing never dies’ paints a skewed picture of the rest of ‘these fair islands’. Mangaia for instance does not share the same history of usurpers as Rarotonga does. She already had her own civilisation and system of governance before […]
Backstabbing never dies
Friday 23 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Poor Chris Vaile, the man can’t understand why liars, arsonists and conspirators are running for Parliament. Chris, you have to look a bit further back in history than the arrival of diesel oil to these fair islands, indeed you have to look back before the arrival of the white man. If […]
Who else needed a loan?
Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to a letter to the editor yesterday from Business Trade Investment Board member Mataauri Ruta titled ‘Don’t crucify father and son’, a smoke signaller texts in some questions: “Is the writer asking the public to overlook and at the same time condone the collective actions of the Maoates? Big deal if they qualified […]
A growing billboard island
Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Another smoke signaller has voiced their concern over the number of billboards being plastered around Rarotonga lately, “especially those big ones advertising Highland Paradise and also the new yellow taxi signs. You can’t see the trees anymore because of all these boards, some of which are so big and ugly. On the roadside outside the […]
Support loan opinions
Tuesday 20 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
In relation to the issue over whether there was a conflict of interest in the granting of business support loans from government to businesses owned by the former Minister of Finance, Sir Terepai Maoate and former Associate Minister, Terepai Maoate Jnr, a smoke signaller writes: “More than one government department has retained private solicitors to […]