Opinion

Tax trumps MMRs $4M

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The report that the Ministry of Marine Resources will make $4 million was probably designed to impress, writes a smoke in response to a front page article in Saturdays CI News. Not so it was a pathetic endeavour to gloss over the bad administration over the last few years. I bet MMR gave the story […]

Kata - May 3, 2011

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Kata

TIS asks to be on fishery review panel

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Wed like to thank the Minister for Marine Resources Teina Bishop, the Secretary of Marine Resources Ben Ponia and his staff for adopting a policy of transparency and presenting their proposed exploratory fishing plans at a public meeting last Thursday evening. We had asked MMR to meet with our members at our own […]

Kata - May 2, 2011

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Noise just a diversion

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: Its obvious that no matter what the PEOPLE of the Cook Islands think, no matter what noises the minister makes, our government will carry out the so-called exploratory purse seining and then go for it. After all who cares about fish stocks in our waters? Why cant we make a stand […]

Conned big time

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Chinese are taking far more fishing stock right now from Cook Islands waters and basically there is nothing Cook Islanders can do about it! Cheap loans, smiling Chinese government officials, cheap buildings with Chinese labour and materials! Cook Islanders have been conned big time. There wont be much fish or any seafood […]

Police finance process new

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the article in the Cook Islands News dated Thursday April 28 and titled Audit finds faults in Police books. I would like to point out that your reporter has incorrectly reported the period of the report as covering the period from October 1 to December 31 2010. The report in […]

Usurpers warned

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Where are the tangata whenua of NZ and Aussie, in the Anzac battle at Raemaru? We were not consulted nor were we asked to be selectors or players. To show our displeasure at this obvious snub of the Anzac natives, we and our supporters will hold a hikoi from anywhere on Rarotonga to […]

Why do we pay a suspended HOM?

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can someone in government please tell the public why the former Secretary for Justice continues to receive his full pay months after he has been suspended? Surely there is a limit or cut off period when a suspended HOM or any public servant for that matter stops receiving a salary. And what happens […]

Enough is enough

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a frequent globetrotter himself, I find it rather amusing that the Public Service Commissioner is now working furiously to put into place a mechanism so as to prevent HOMs from taking further advantage of their positions to abuse overseas travel. But good on Navy Epati for having the guts to stand his […]

New bloodsucker arrives

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

After being told theres a new bloodsucker on the island one smoke signaller wondered who it might be and whether they were of the political or bureaucratic variety. Turns out its neither, its way, way smaller and it really likes sucking the blood of our canine friends. The Brown Dog Tick was discovered on a […]

Dont be fooled

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Every Cook Islander and Pacific Islander should click and see these videos. Purse seine fishing is going to destroy the fish stocks in our territories. No matter what the government says or theyre research seems to claim, this irresponsible act of allowing purse seine fishing will be disastrous for our ocean ecology and […]

Disbelief at size of ships

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with disbelief the concept that a cruise ship of 150m will be able to just drive in and back out of your exposed harbour. I then took it upon myself to do some research on the size of cruise ships that visit Rarotonga and am amazed that the port itself must […]

Kata - April 29, 2011

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Audit responds to conflict of interest claim

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This will be my last public statement in the media about this particular subject matter. I refer to the letter to the editor by Mr Lance Patterson, retired auditor. Mr Patterson makes some fair points (and he can be assured I take no offence at his letter) but he, like the general public, […]

Auditor disagrees with finding

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest the editor of April 21 titled, Its a clear conflict of interest. The response from your Audit Director I found quite vague and misleading and the allegations by Mr Ka from the little I have read spot on. Any qualified auditor knows to determine whether a conflict of interest […]

Port will handle 200m cruise ships

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There have been some strange announcements from the Ports Authority CEO Bim Tou lately, but the one in last Wednesdays CINews takes a bit of believing. Does he really believe that cruise ships close to 200m long will come into the harbour and berth when the turning circle is only 135m? What are […]

Growing taro is hard work

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would invite the Smoke Signaller who complained about the high cost for taros to come and see how taro is prepared, planted, cared for and taken out when it is ready. I am a woman, I have planted taro for the first time and now will never complain about the high costs […]

Kata - April 27, 2011

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Never had ariki

Tuesday 26 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Mr John Uri, by his letter on 23 April, appeared to have, with respect, misunderstood mine on 14 March. I only alluded to the long-time suppressed academic question of the constitutional legitimacy of our government, judiciary, parliament, and laws today since our native Cook Islanders sovereignty was usurped by the Colony of New […]