Smoke Signals
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 […]
Don't let the dogs out
Saturday 17 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The news article yesterday about five dogs being poisoned in Tupapa and the finger being pointed at goat farmers, drew two swift responses. One smoke signaller emailed in from Tupapa and began by quoting SPCA president Alistair Macquarie’s comment yesterday that “These farmers need to get off their butts and do something to stop their […]
Maggie wants Tangi, not Tupa
Thursday 15 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I have just read the newspaper article ‘Maggie wont vote’,” a smoke signaller writes in reference to the front page article yesterday about the run-off today between John Tangi, Nooroa Tupa and William Framhein for the Democratic Party candidacy in the constituency of Tupapa. “Sure Maggie won’t vote, but he’s been around Tupapa homes campaigning […]
Partial to eclipses
Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“People overuse the word ‘awesome’ these days,” a smoke signaller texts to 188, “but Sunday morning’s partial solar eclipse was just that: AWESOME!!” SmokeSignals: Agreed. Adding to the surreal atmosphere was the crowing of a number of island roosters which must have had their body clocks temporarily confused by the sudden darkness! Many viewers watching […]
2 great shows
Saturday 10 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Put your alarm clock on for an early rise tomorrow morning to catch two spectacular events, one astronomical and one sporting, shortly after 8 o’clock. Rarotonga residents get to see a partial solar eclipse at 8.19am (see recent editions of CI News for safe viewing guides) when the Moon’s umbral shadow will be just 25km […]
Airlines, take your rubbish home
Friday 9 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to what describes as “Joe Ngamata’s weak excuse for pollution” after the Airport Authority’s Chief Executive wrote in yesterday’s CINews that he is required by law to burn all rubbish – including plastics – that comes off international flights, which has concerned a Panama resident who understandably does not […]
Rolling over in credit
Thursday 8 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “A short while ago, Telecom announced they would appreciate our comments or complaints about their service and they would respond. I’m still waiting…My gripe is this: Why do we have to top up our phone cards monthly when we are still in credit? I currently have $110 and yet still had […]
More women lawmakers
Wednesday 7 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller has what Blackadder’s Baldrick might call ‘a cunning plan’… Those frustrated CIPs in Murienua should pay their $2 to the Demo party and make sure Angie Tuara wins the Demo seat over James Beer this Friday. Yes, that’s allowed: how do you think those old fogies have stayed in power for so […]
Signaller a mischief maker
Tuesday 6 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
There were just two empty seats on the inaugural Air New Zealand Sydney-Rarotonga flight on Sunday, one of our readers says in response to the smoke signaller yesterday who provided a booking screenshot to suggest there was plenty of availability on the flight across all classes. “And yes, Air New Zealand sells whatever they can […]
Seats still available
Monday 5 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Attached is a screenshot from the Air New Zealand website taken by a smoke signaller this past Saturday and e-mailed to us showing availability across all fare classes on the inaugural Sydney to Rarotonga flight which touched down here early yesterday morning. It is definitely not fully booked as claimed by Tourism CEO Carmel Beattie, […]
Who's calling the pot black
Saturday 3 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“How much was Sholan paid and how was he appointed as Financial Secretary?” a smoke signaller asks following former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti’s allegations of misconduct against the Director of Audit, Paul Allsworth (see the past couple of days’ editions of CI News). “The coconut wireless says that he was not number one on the […]
First flight 'not full'
Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to a statement yesterday that this Sunday’s inaugural direct Sydney-Rarotonga flight is fully-booked, one of our readers reckons the new Tourism CEO Carmel Beattie is exaggerating. “As at this morning I can still get two seats Sydney to Rarotonga this weekend on direct flights in all classes.” The Cook Islands is underwriting the flights […]
Accident could have been serious
Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Just wondering if tourists are still being allowed to hire bikes before proving they can actually ride one and obtaining a bike licence?” a smoke signaller asks in a message to TXT188. “On Tuesday afternoon at the Island Car and Bike Hire beside Raro Cars we had a close encounter with a tourist who lost […]
New rappa exec making money?
Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller phoned in these questions yesterday in relation to the Ruatonga Avatiu Panama Palmerston Atupa constituency, understandably referred to as RAPPA: “Why is the new RAPPA executive charging $5 to become a member when the Matavera and Nikao Cook Islands Party constituencies were charging $2 to become a member? What’s the extra $3 […]