Opinion

Rarotonga not a dump

Tuesday 21 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Recently I was sitting on the wall at the Avana Channel and spotted no less than five large pieces of rubbish clogging your beautiful shoreline. I walk past a giant dump to get to my parents home in Turangi – full of broken down cars, fridges, junk that hurts the eyes and the […]

Real estate investment ideal

Tuesday 21 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After learning at the state funeral of Sir Apenera Short and his life time achievements as deputy prime minister, wouldnt our current deputy prime minister like to fill his shoes. There are a lot of people living in New Zealand and Australia wanting to live here in the Cook Islands. Think about it […]

Big thank you for such a generous offer

Tuesday 21 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On behalf of the committee, cast, crew and the entire team involved with Once, Upon A Reef Musical Production, we would like to extend a big meitaki maata, to Sonny Williams, at the Ministry of Culture, in giving us a discount on the remaining balance of our fees for hiring the auditorium. This […]

Climate change data is rock solid

Tuesday 21 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your correspondent Jan Kristensson (Climate change based on evidence? published on June 18) is incorrect in his assertion that there is no evidence that shows an historic correlation between global temperatures and atmospheric CO2 amounts. He clearly has a scant understanding of the science involved. Perhaps he would care to produce a single […]

Keeping up with the times

Monday 20 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

If you need to check international flight arrival times a lot and have an internet broadband connection, you can save a few dollars each month to help pay for the relatively high cost of the service by checking these online. Both Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.com) and Pacific Blue (flypacificblue.com) have excellent websites that provide regular […]

Te Tika to return home

Monday 20 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid will lie in state at Te Puea Marae until she is brought home to Rarotonga. Chris Wong, who is handling the Auckland arrangements for her family, said Te Tikas casket was to be taken to Te Puea Marae, Te Waka Ko Tainui , Mangere Bridge at 10am yesterday. She would […]

Kata - June 18, 2011

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Cheese cheaper here

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Id like to know how New Zealand cheese is about half the price in Rarotonga as it is in New Zealand? asks Andy in the comments section of a stuff.co.nz article about a dairy industry report that claims Kiwis could be paying $195 million too much for milk each year from Fonterra. Andy writes: I […]

Wheres the action?

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When one listens to politicians blab on about what they plan to achieve for this country when in government, you could be forgiven for thinking that these characters can turn the almost impossible into reality. But what I find totally ironic about our politicians is that they like to think big and act […]

Climate change based on evidence?

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, One late afternoon in late May CITV showed a programme entitled The Climate Change Swindle. In the programme several prominent scientists expressed their concern over how the issue of climate change has been politicised. Millions of people benefit from having paid positions in organisations fighting climate change. Scientists will get a much better […]

PM protecting PSC?

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is appalling that the Public Service Commissioner has not been suspended by the Prime Minister especially as the investigation into his dealings with fishing licences has been referred to the Cook Islands Police. Under similar circumstances, heads of ministries in the past were suspended by Mr Epati even before the matter had […]

Homeland unwell but there is hope

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How is the general well being of our homeland? Cook Islands health report overall: not well. Families: fighting as hard as they can for the best they can. The land: poor condition and usage. The seas: gradual decline in health, resources and ever relentless The list is long but we have hope in […]

Time to take a stand on our language

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have two Mangaian teenage feeding daughters at Tereora. When I see how they struggle with their studies I realise how lucky I was to have all my education (with the exception of a few guest lecturers at university) in my native language. My students struggle with words like purchase in accounting, compare […]

Kata - June 17, 2011

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Patrons Award to Te Tika

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Cook Islands Business & Professional Womens Association patron Helen Henry (right) awarded Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid the Patrons Award at the Woman of the Year function last weekend. I would now like to announce a special annual Cook Islands BPW award The Patrons Award. This will be awarded to the BPW member whose actions […]

Lost on roads

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just want to comment on an article last week about road maintenance being neglected. Let me simplify this issue once again, as it is not that simple if you arent sure how to sort this problem out. This ball of fire has been shoved from one government to another, and no one […]

Ombudsman not a public defender

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter by Norman George headed Police Commissioners response welcomed in terms of the comments made against my office. I would be more than happy to meet with Mr George to discuss any of his concerns but I have to clarify that since I took up the role of Ombudsman, […]

Kata - June 16, 2011

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Tyre eating pothole

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A disgruntled smokie driver writes: It was about the sixth time that the left front wheel of my car crunched its tyre in the growing pothole outside Kiikii Motel, that I realized action men Teariki Heather and George Maggie are like the rest of the politicians who rise to glory in this country. They were […]

Police Commissioners response welcomed

Wednesday 15 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am grateful to the Police Commissioner for his warm reaction to the setting up of an Independent Police Complaints Authority, in a letter published June 11. It has been effectively in place in New Zealand for nearly 30 years. This covers all kinds of complaints against the police which includes in the […]