Smoke Signals
Our very own Gilligan's Island
Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The safe return of the four from Manuae is fantastic news, but attention now must be given to the investigation into what really happened to ensure there isn’t a repeat of what must have been a costly rescue mission. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that all four men should not have […]
Who got the seat?
Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Interesting to read in your paper that a Manihiki woman with a torn Achilles tendon gave up her seat for an emergency case from Pukapuka. I wonder who the Manihiki patient gave up her seat for? Obviously not for the Pukapuka patient. Among the passengers who hopped off the plane when […]
Share the direct flight banners
Wednesday 12 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The newly-launched cookislands.travel website features a banner on the home page to promote the July 4 start of Air New Zealand’s direct Sydney-Rarotonga flights, which needs strong bookings to avoid the country paying for any losses by the airline on this route. A number of local businesses have agreed to place the banner on their […]
Higher airport taxes in ticket
Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“For all those beating up on our country’s taxes,” a smoke signaller writes, “these are the airport taxes for a trip to Fiji from Auckland New Zealand next week. The difference is these are in the purchase price of the ticket.” AIRPORT & GOVERNMENT COSTS: Airport Departure Tax NZ$56.40; Airport Security Charge $3.80; Airport Development […]
Dear parrots and politics
Monday 10 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “It’s really a sad state of affairs that we have to wait around to see the Demo Party spend the time coming up to the election, going through the foregone conclusion of ousting the nazis only to finish up with the same old Dead Party options to vote for. Reminds me […]
Supporters 'weren't swearing at players'
Saturday 8 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A reader replies to one of the smoke signals yesterday regarding Tupapa supporters: “I think I have a fair idea who this person is; you may stay in Tupapa, but you’re not a Tupapa supporter. The person who wrote it sounds as vicious as the message and it shows you how spiteful this person is […]
Foul mouth spoils game for others
Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
An irate sports fan writes: “I am a league freak and always have been since I was a little girl, from ARL to NRL and now CIRL, it’s like our own little island State of Origin. I love it! But I am so sick and tired of Tupapa supporters screaming foul and obscene remarks at […]
A PM for the people
Thursday 6 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
On the subject of a nationally elected prime minister, a smoke signaller writes: “Under our current Parliamentary structure the PM calls the shots – if he can control Cabinet, which operates under a system of the most stubborn gets his or her way. What the voting public needs is a PM who will try and […]
Alice's tropical wonderland
Tuesday 4 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “The recent screening of Alice in Wonderland was certainly timely for us here in the Cook Islands where, like Alice’s experience, reality seems to have been set on its head and all is back to front. On the one hand we have spent well over $1,000,000 chasing an allegation against Norman […]
Billboards spoiling enua manea
Monday 3 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A reader writes: “As we were driving around our beautiful island (enua manea!) enjoying the green, well kept sections and sweeping oceans views, our vision was suddenly obscured by a huge billboard, demanding attention to a business in Arorangi. It made the “OIRE RANGIATEA” sign seem less important! We continued driving and then another billboard […]
What about the others?
Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I was just reading through the Cook Islands News this morning (Thursday) regarding the sentencing of Danny Cook,” writes a smoke signaller. “My points are: There are other offenders who are facing the same sentencing but have not taken place yet. How quickly Danny’s case has been dealt with. His sentence is two years in […]
Local bums on empty seats?
Thursday 29 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A suggestion has been made that if taxpayers have to underwrite the new Sydney flights, surely taxpayers could expect first dibs on any empty seats. It would help keep the planes (looking) full and leave a sweeter taste in our mouths… of course we’d be hoping we don’t leave anyone behind permanently in Australia! It […]
New jetty questioned
Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“How can it be justified for $2 million to be spent on a new jetty for cruise ship tender boats that will only be used a couple of times a year?” a smoke signaller asks “What about spending that money on roads and sewerage and other more immediate needs? It’s like a man whose house […]
2 faces of Tangaroa
Monday 26 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The logo for the new Rules of Attraction reality dating show (above) is neat: it can be seen as two Tangaroa faces looking at each other – in keeping with the theme – but stare at it a while and it could be a single Tangaroa face looking straight at you. Cook Islands Tourism has […]
Glenda must stay as CEO
Thursday 22 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “After reading the exit review from Cook Islands Tourism marketing director Glenda Tuaine in your Wednesday paper, all I can say to Minister of Tourism Robert Wigmore is: Persuade Glenda to return to the office immediately as CEO, invite her to bring her proven team around her, ask her advice on […]
Stress relief!
Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The audacity of the man!” exclaims a smoke signaller. “Brett Porter somehow got an agreement with ‘government’ to buy his failing company – with now just two years left on the troubled Toa Petroleum land lease – and now he wants taxpayer money to help him buy stock in order to stay in business, pay […]
Safe in young hands
Saturday 17 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Those lucky enough to have been at the national auditorium on Thursday for the Rarotonga schools’ culture festival were treated to a spectacular night’s entertainment and a resounding confirmation that the future of our country’s performing cultural arts is in safe hands with our young generation. All of the children, their teachers and their parents […]
$1.2m an acre?
Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A couple of local websites that have land leases for sale have asking prices for vacant beachfront land that may surprise some people. For example, one beachfront section in Arorangi of 2500 square metres has an asking price of $750,000. That’s a little over half an acre (0.6177 acres) and if it sells for that […]
Tickets sell fast for culture night
Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Thirteen schools will take part in tonight’s highly anticipated Rarotonga schools’ culture festival at the national auditorium. If you haven’t got a ticket yet, you will be very lucky to find one today with many of the schools already sold out. Some tickets may still be available from the national auditorium at 4.30pm – so […]
Book helping to promote health
Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Liquor licensing A smoke signaller writes: “I watched an interesting TV programme on liquor licensing. Do the 150 licences issued to date include Catholic Churches around the island? I mean to say although they do not have a great variety of liquor available, they do dispense wine on a Sunday of all days, and admittedly […]