Opinion

Chasing dead butterflies

Monday 23 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

What or when exactly is 12pm midnight? asks a smoke signaller after reading Public Notices in our daily classifieds from establishments seeking a restaurant liquor licence from the Liquor Licensing Authority. 12pm is midday and midnight is 12am! Cmon Cook Islands News, read and think carefully unless the notice came from the Authority and you […]

Kata - May 21, 2011

Saturday 21 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Leave the waves to the real locals

Saturday 21 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Theres suggestion of offering surfing tours and surfing camps here on our small and lovely island. We LOCAL surfers who have been born and grown here still wish our spots to remain uncrowded. Ive surfed many places but nothing compares to our local spots. Less crowds and less aggression. Lets keep it that […]

Laugh or cry

Saturday 21 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I dont know whether to laugh or cry in regards to the meek excuse received from Telecom Cook Islands on the terrible TV reception that we poor CITV viewers in the Matavera area have had to bear for an entire week now. Obviously the Head of TCI does not live in Matavera. If […]

We like to enjoy our waves as they are

Saturday 21 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The letter Dont pick on our girl Charlotte in Fridays paper develops the same attitude that the two surfers were writing about. A who-cares attitude. Quote who cares what they think?, talking about the local surfers in general. This person obviously does not surf as he suggested they will listen to you if […]

Swapping ika for tita

Saturday 21 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: The following extract was found on page 10 of a 2008 report on seabird populations in Suwarrow, regarding Motu Manu: As noted in the 2000 survey, much rubbish, including plastic rope, floats, glass and plastic bottles, pieces of wood, rubber jandals and shoes, litters the eastern shoreline as well as some […]

Dont pick on our girl Charlotte

Friday 20 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How dare those two surfers pick on our girl from Rakahanga Charlotte Piho for trying to promote the Cook Islands as a surfing destination! Good on you girl, you have definitely done your homework, you are not just sitting around like these bums who are criticising you. Who cares what they think, lets […]

Getting great waves is a bonus

Thursday 19 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Wed like to add our voices to the discontent regarding the proposition of promoting Rarotonga as a surf destination. As a long time surfer (30 years plus) and residents of Rarotonga for nearly six years, we can attest to the fact that there are great waves to be enjoyed here. However, there is […]

Tax time never ends

Thursday 19 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in with a tax dilemma. TVNZs Close-Up programme mentioned the Rapture, according to some predictions, will happen on their May 21 which will be our Friday May 20 [tomorrow]. Do we pay our monthly VAT and PAYE taxes before that, or do we hold onto it? Surely the Tax Department cant […]

Preventing a pushers haven

Wednesday 18 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller reckons many young Cook Islanders have most likely been nave victims of the sellers of drugs who just have easy money on their brains. He says if such a person is convicted but gets off with hardly any penalty like the Manihiki aviation terrorists did our country will be become a haven […]

Dont promote surf tours to Rarotonga!

Wednesday 18 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The idea that Charlotte Piho wants to promote Rarotonga as a surf destination is a terrible self interested money making idea. No local surfer wants groups of tourist surfers in Rarotonga. Perhaps Charlotte would like surfers over-crowding her local break, but we dont want it. We only have a handful of breaks as […]

Keep our surf secret

Tuesday 17 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Like our precious fisheries, us local surfers have tried real hard to keep the Cook Islands a secret surf destination, a smoke signaller writes in response to the adventure surfers here on The Awakening mission to find the perfect Cook Islands wave. Ask any local surfer, and believe me theres a few, our spots are […]

What happened to open governance?

Tuesday 17 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor So after several months the PSC terminates the employment of a senior Public Servant without giving the public specific reasons and says he can say no more because it is being referred to the Police for further investigations and it would be unfair to the accused! Excuse me. The public was under the […]

Norman George vs. Teina Bishop

Tuesday 17 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Now that Minister Bishop has finished announcing to the nation what a bad MP I am, then moving motions to the Privilege Committee of Parliament which included having my seat declared vacant, it is time I need to ask questions about him: (1) Does the MP for Arutanga, Reureu and Nikaupara have a […]

Dead mans family must have closure

Tuesday 17 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Ive just seen on One News a Coroner issuing death certificates for the nine Christchurch earthquake victims who couldnt be identified by forensics. This act is giving some closure to families of the nine lost people, closure that is very much needed to help families and friends recover and move on. Of course, […]

Dont turn Rarotonga into a surf destination!

Tuesday 17 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We have been trying to keep a lid on surf in the Cook Islands for past 15 years and longer. Now its going to be exploited. The Cook Islands is and should remain a tourist destination for families (who spend money). Surfers are generally backpackers, who come on the cheap, and just want […]

Kata - May 17, 2011

Tuesday 17 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Where is justice in penalising Bulldogs?

Tuesday 17 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in utter disappointment in regards to the Titikaveka Reserve League Team that I (Ty Connal) proudly sponsor. Cook Islands Rugby League Committee have kicked the Titikaveka Reserve League Team out of the competition because we were trying to prove a point as we have nine SDA players in our team, […]

Kata - May 16, 2011

Monday 16 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - May 14, 2011

Saturday 14 May 2011 | Published in Kata